Building management and appliance control system

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure is directed to energy storage and supply management system. The system may include one or more of a control unit, which is in communication with the power grid, and an energy storage unit that stores power for use at a later time. The system may be used with traditional utility provided power as well as locally generated solar, wind, and any other types of power generation technology. In some embodiments, the energy storage unit and the control unit are housed in the same chassis. In other embodiments, the energy storage unit and the control unit are separate. In another embodiment, the energy storage unit is integrated into the chassis of an appliance itself.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.16/570,921, entitled “BUILDING MANAGEMENT AND APPLIANCE CONTROL SYSTEM,”filed on Sep. 13, 2019, which is a continuation of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/645,855, entitled “BUILDING MANAGEMENT ANDAPPLIANCE CONTROL SYSTEM,” filed on Jul. 10, 2017, which is now U.S.Pat. No. 10,637,246, which is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 15/201,139, entitled “Building Management and Appliance ControlSystem,” filed Jul. 1, 2016, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 9,800,050, whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/341,499,entitled “Building Management and Appliance Control System,” filed Jul.25, 2014, which is now U.S. Pat. No. 9,705,333, which in turn claims thebenefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/859,167, entitled“BUILDING MANAGEMENT AND APPLIANCE CONTROL SYSTEM,” filed on Jul. 26,2013. The disclosures of the above-identified patent applications arehereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The following disclosure relates to the wide-scale distribution ofintelligent energy storage units that may be positioned within theelectric grid so as to make the electric grid smart.

BACKGROUND

The consumption of energy in the form of electricity is a modern facetof modern living. However, the production of energy often requires theactivation of large turbine generators that convert mechanical energyinto electrical energy. This mechanical energy is typically created bymoving water, steam, and/or gas across the blades of the turbine therebycausing them to revolve, these revolutions then in turn cause a giantmagnet to turn, which in turn creates a magnetic field that causeselectrons in an associated electrical circuit to flow. Such flow istermed “electricity.” The energy that creates the steam or gas thatflows across the blades of the turbines is, from a historic perspective,usually generated by the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal, oil,and/or natural gas. Unfortunately, when a fossil fuel is used to run theturbines, such as coal, natural gas, oil or the like, pollution, in theform of carbon emissions, may be produced, which may cause deleteriousenvironmental conditions. Accordingly, renewable resources are nowbeginning to be deployed on a more wide scale basis for the productionof electricity.

For instance, electricity may be produced by the running of water overthe blades of the turbine, such as at a hydroelectric plant, and/or maybe produced by nuclear energy, solar power, or wind power. However, forwide scale use purposes, such energy producing facilities require largephysical plants and/or farms of photovoltaic cells or fields of windturbines. Because of the need for large physical facilities and theundesirable polluting side effects of producing energy, e.g., by theburning of fossil fuels, the power plants that generate such electricityare often located in places that are remote from the residentialneighborhoods that ultimately use the produced electricity.Consequently, the energy produced by such power plants needs to betransferred, such as through a transmission network, from the remotelocations of production to the site of usage by the ultimate consumer.This transmission of electricity is typically carried out across anetwork of thick wires that connect the power generation source to theconsumer where such network is commonly referred to as the “electricgrid”.

The electric grid or “grid” is a network for transmitting electricityfrom a producer and/or supplier ultimately to a consumer. Hence, thegrid is interconnected on the generation side with power suppliers, onthe distribution side with centralized power distributers, and on theuse side with consumers, the collection of which forms one or more“Macro Grids”. Most consumers of electricity are grid tied, which simplyput means being connected to the macro grid for electricity use. This isprimarily due to the fact that the most stable power source to date, inmodern cities is the electrical grid. However, with the rapid adoptionof renewable resource generation, specifically on the consumer side ofthe grid, this may, with the right technological advancements, changedrastically.

The macro grid, therefore, generally includes a plurality of centralizedgeneration sources, a number of distribution centers, and theinfrastructures necessary to provide electricity to the consumerincluding the various transmission lines necessary for such electricitytransfer. The remote generation source is typically where electricity isproduced and packaged into a usable form, such as in a form suitable fortransmission. For instance, transmission from the remote areas ofproduction, to the far away areas where it will finally be used.

For example, dependent on the type of generator employed and thegeneration process, the electricity produced will either be in the formof an alternating current (AC) or a direct current (DC). Yet, because DCdoes not travel well over long distances, in those instances where DC isproduced, it is typically converted to a form of AC prior totransmission. More particularly, dependent on how the grid isconstructed, the electricity produced will be transmitted at a givenvoltage having a specific frequency so as to deliver a certain electriccurrent, such as to the distribution center. More particularly, whensuch electricity is travelling on the transmission side it may rangefrom about 1,000 kV or about 800 kV or about 765 kV to about 300 kV orabout 115 kV, etc. Accordingly, this side of the macro grid is generallyreferred to as the transmission grid.

The transmission infrastructure typically includes large capacity, highvoltage power lines that act as an electricity super highway fortransferring energy from the remote locations of its production to thepopulated areas of its usage; and/or may further include one or moretransformers that step the electricity that passes through it up or downso as to be efficiently transmitted and/or used. For instance, onceproduced the voltage of the current may be stepped up so as to maximizethe speed and quantity of energy transmission, while reducing the sizeof the wiring through which the electricity is transferred and/orreducing the thermal heat generated by such transmission.

Distribution Substations are typically where the electricity is receivedand stepped down via one or more transformers so as to decrease thevoltage and frequency of the current to a level suitable fortransmission to the consumer, which upon delivery to a local transformerservicing a given area of consumers may be stepped down once more to afinal level that may be used. This side of the macro grid is usuallyreferred to as the distribution grid. More particularly, when suchelectricity is travelling on the distribution side it may range fromabout 200 kV or about 132 kV or about 33 kV to about 25 kV or about 3.3kV, etc. Once stepped down, local distribution lines deliver theelectricity to the consumer where, as indicated, the electricity may bestepped down an additional time, such as to 110-240 volts (such as atabout 50 or about 60 cycles) so as to be in a form usable by theconsumer. On the consumer side of the grid, such electricity usuallyenters the consumer's place of use through a meter that measures theamount of electricity used, and in a manner such as this theoreticallyreliable, stable electricity may be generated and distributed to the enduse customer via the electric grid.

The macro grid, therefore, is configured for producing, transmitting,and distributing electricity to the ultimate consumer and user, such asupon demand. Simply put, however, this macro grid is a legacy grid, andas such it is built on an archaic infrastructure, using outdatedtransmission lines, and with insufficient control mechanisms forhandling the complex usage scenarios that result from its diverse localcustomers, thus severely limiting its ability to meet theever-increasing demands of the consumer in a cost-effective andenvironmentally responsible manner. More specifically, this legacy macrogrid is basically not configured so as to efficiently deal with thefluctuating usage demands of the consumer and has long been strugglingwith maintaining stability in the face of such fluctuating demand.

For instance, as consumer demand curves differ with the differing needsof the various customers served by a particular macro grid, the supplycurves representing the ability of the respective power generatorsand/or distributors to meet those needs must also fluctuate. Thisdifference between the demand and supply curves represents a hugeproblem for the power generators, distributors, and ultimately for theconsumers, but also for the electrical utility investors and regulators.

For example, the response to increased energy demand appears on the gridas peaks, the greater the amplitude and frequencies of these peaks, thegreater the potential for destabilization in the grid to occur, thuscreating problems ranging from overloaded transformers to brown and/orblackouts, such as when overloaded transformers completely shut down.More particularly, once overloaded, transformers experience increasedwear and reduced operational life, thereby requiring higher maintenance,and increasing their likely hood of shutting down during the next periodof inordinately increased demand, thereby causing a brown and/orblackout condition. Decreased demand can also be problematic. Forinstance, low demand appears on the grid as valleys. For example, in alow demand scenario, power suppliers are faced with having too muchenergy flowing across the grid, requiring the power suppliers to have todump the excess power to keep from crashing the system.

Accordingly, any fluctuation in the legacy grid may cause generalinstability for the grid operator(s) thereby potentially causingproblems with the power generators, such as not running at optimal usagelevels, and/or problems with the transformers, which in turn may resultin one or more of flow inefficiencies; transformation inefficiencies(such as where energy undergoes too many or too few conversions); waste,such as through leakage, radiant heating, or being converted from oneform to another; inefficient coupling; overproduction; under production;and the like. And when these instabilities increase, entire gridshutdown may be threatened.

Hence, in view of the multiplicity of problems constantly threatening toshut one or more portions of the macro grid down, a central regulator isneeded to facilitate communication and develop protocols to maintain amore stable grid. For instance, a typical distribution center includes agovernor that monitors an electronic representation of the grid withrespect to the present demand and supply curves. For example, in atypical scenario, where demand outweighs supply, the monitor mustbalance the need for producing more power, with the risk of bothproducing too much power, and therefore creating waste, and notproducing enough power, and thus risking a brown and/or black out. Insuch an instance, where the monitor determines more energy should besupplied to the grid, it may be determined that an auxiliary productionfacility, such as a peaker plant, need be brought on line.

A peaker plant is an energy production facility, e.g., a sub-station,which houses one or more generators. These generators are simply waitingto go live, so they can be ramped up, be quickly brought on line to meetthe increased supply demand, and thereby prevent potential brownoutsituations caused by under capacity. Peaker plants, however, can beproblematic in their own right. For instance, a typical peaker plantcosts an exorbitant amount of money to produce, must be built inaccordance with strict regulations, and once up and running is alwaysrunning, e.g., at a basal level, thus, generating waste when not online.More particularly, peaker plants sit idle in anticipation of the nextenergy peak caused by consumer usage demand, and while sitting idleproduce unnecessary emissions due to this “always on” scenario whereinfossil fuel is constantly being burned and its emissions released intothe atmosphere.

As indicated, peaker plants require a high installation cost, and mustundergo a lengthy regulatory process before a new facility may beapproved, built, and brought online. Further, even when approved suchplants often become obsolete prematurely due to changes in regulatorymandates. Thus, a huge problem for the energy supplier and/or investoris the fact that the cost of this asset is largely never recouped. Thereis a constant battle, therefore, between supplying too much energy tothe grid and not enough energy.

In order to better manage the issues of grid instabilities caused byinconsistent and fluctuating user demand, as well as minimize the needfor wide scale usage of peaker plants, energy supply companies havedeveloped a number of different schemes directed at changing theelectricity use patterns of the consumer, a main component of which isthrough various different pricing modalities. However, there a severalproblems inherent with the various pricing modalities proposed, not theleast of which is the fact that the existing electrical grid is onlyconfigured for transmitting electricity as if it were a commodity ratherthan a renewable resource. More specifically, grid operators have thedifficult task of determining how to charge consumers for the product,e.g., electricity, and/or services they provide.

To date, the electricity distributor typically charges the electricityconsumer based on the over all usage patterns of the collective ofconsumers. Hence, the individual consumer is charged a higher rate atpeak times of demand, than the rate they are charged during off peaktimes, thus, making the electricity product more of a commodity, havinga limited supply, rather than a service, such as cable or internet. Asmentioned above, historically, electricity generation has been producedfrom fossil fuel sources such as coal and natural gas, thus to a limitedextent justifying the treatment of electricity like a commodity.However, with the shift to electricity production from renewable energyresources, such as photovoltaic and/or wind farms, as well as thedevelopment of hydroelectricity, the correlation of electricity to alimited resources, e.g., a commodity, is becoming more and more of astretch.

The problem with this commodity-type of pricing is even more exacerbatedwhen the electricity distribution company attempts to change the usepatterns of their customers by adopting various different pricingmodalities for the sole purpose of changing the consumer's usagebehaviors. For instance, as a means of changing the consumer's behaviorvarious utility companies have proposed a range of different pricingmodels, such as “Time of Use Pricing”, “Dynamic Pricing”, and/or “DemandResponse Pricing.” These and other such pricing models are in conceptdesigned to give the consumers various use options in hopes of creatinga behavioral change that will mainly benefit the electricitydistributor.

For example, “Time of Use” pricing was initially designed to incentivizecommercial energy customers to reduce peak-time usage by increasingutility rates during peak-demand periods, and reducing pricing outsidenormal, non-peak-demand usage, in an effort to help smooth out gridfluctuation cycles. Time of Use pricing, however, is confusing to thecustomer, in part because their various different associated rates nowhave several different pricing categories for the same commodity beingpurchased, where price fluctuation depends simply on what time of daythat commodity is being consumed and/or for what the commodity is beingused and/or who it is that is doing the consuming.

More particularly, if the consumer is a commercial user or a residentialuser having solar power or owning an electric car, such consumers willhave different “peak demand” pricing windows than the typicalresidential user, even though they are consuming the same energy at thesame time. For instance, those who have solar power connections have a“peak demand” pricing period that begins in the evening, rather thanduring the day, merely because they have a solar generator connected tothe grid, despite the fact that they are using the same electricityprovided to them at the same time period as any other residential userwith the only difference being that during daylight hours, theresidential user with solar power does not typically need to use powerfrom the grid. Nevertheless, in order to maintain a certain level ofreturn on investment, the utility provider shifts the “peak demand”pricing period for such users to the non-daylight hours thereby chargingthem more at night than during the day, in contravention to the ratebeing charged to the typical residential consumer who does not havesolar power.

With respect to “demand response” pricing, this pricing model is a gridmanagement technique where retail or wholesale customers are requestedeither electronically or manually to reduce their load. Currently,transmission grid operators, e.g., power distribution companies, usedemand response to request load reduction from major energy users suchas industrial plants. More particularly, demand response pricinginvolves energy pricing that follows the intermittent consumer demand onthe electrical grid, which requires consumers to follow energy pricing,prior to use. Essentially the Distributed Services Organization, e.g.,the Utility, will monitor usage and at various times of the day whendemand begins to peak above supply, they will make an announcement inreal time to warn consumers of a hike in the pricing of use. They expectsuch pricing events to occur daily, where each day there could beseveral such events.

Unfortunately, these complex pricing programs have proven to not be aseffective as hoped. For instance, the desired outcome was to reduce peaktime use in order to help stabilize grid operation. However, in order tobe successful, these programs depended on the consumers understandingand/or caring about grid issues enough to ultimately change theirbehaviors at the arbitrary use-times demanded from the utilityproviders; and further these programs were based on punishing the “badbehavior” of the consumer by making them pay more for electricity usageif they did not adhere to the usage periods arbitrarily determined bythe Utilities.

More particularly, these pricing models are founded on the expectationthat consumers will change their routines or suffer the consequences ofhigher energy pricing if they don't. Further, the reward for giving into the demands of the utility providers is not being able to access thegrid at times when most needed, e.g., during days of high temperatures,or nights of low temperatures. Consumers simply do not want to deal withthese inconveniences.

Furthermore, for the commercial consumer, such as product manufacturers,these consumers were expected to shift their production efforts to“off-peak” times that typically do not coincide with regular hours ofoperation, simply to move energy usage times to suit the energysupplier's, e.g., DSO's, needs. This is especially problematic for thosemanufactures that need to operate their equipment consistently 24/7 withno ability to shift loads to off peak times. Hence, for the commercialconsumer, these programs require them to pay attention to their usagetimes and to make some very difficult decisions as to how and when touse their equipment.

Other programs that have been developed and implemented by the gridoperators to better manage the electricity use patterns of the consumerinvolve communications media. For instance, the utility provider as afurther means for changing the user's behaviors employs communicationsmedia. Such media have included the use of in home displays (IHD) orgrid-tied I demand response thermostats, coupled with energy monitoringdevices. These IHDs are consumer facing energy display/monitors thatconnect either in a wired or wireless configuration with a smart meterto show electricity usage to the consumer. The principle behind the useof such IHDs is to change the consumer's behavior by making theinteraction with usage easy and commonplace. More particularly, the ideawas to help consumers better understand and relate usage costs to peaktimes of demand where such peaks are determined by historic usagemodels.

For instance, one such monitoring device is a grid tied demand responsethermostat. In use, a customer will opt in to the program, the utilitycompany will install the demand response thermostat, then the utilitycompany will control the thermostat, and in times of peak demand willset it back thereby preventing its use. These and other types ofelectrical load curtailment devices on the customer side of the meterincreases the Distributed Services Organization's ability to stabilizethe grid. However, these devices offer complicated options to an alreadycomplicated issue and have yet to offer any significant long-term value,plus customers don't like having the Distributed Services Organizationturn off their appliances, e.g., air conditioning, without any way tooverride this decision.

Other options, beyond the mere implementation of price regulationsand/or transmission of media communications, have been proposed forsolving the problems of fluctuations caused by peak time usage demand.For instance, the production of grid-side solar farms and wind farms, aswell as consumer side solar energy generation, have been developed tohelp assuage the problem of fluctuating consumer side electricity use oftheir local portion of their macro grid. However, although theserenewable energy modalities were expected to help stabilize the grid bygenerating power that would offset peak demand, in actuality, there areseveral problems inherent to these proposed means of energy productionthat renders their effectiveness de minimis.

For instance, an issue with renewable resource power generation,regardless of the side of the grid they reside upon, is due to thenon-linear and intermittent nature of the natural environment. Forexample, when the sun is shining solar energy is capable of beingproduced. But, when clouds cover the sun, or the sun is otherwise notshining, solar energy is not readily producible. The same can be saidfor the production of energy from wind. When it is windy out, energy iscapable of being produced, but when it is not windy out, energy cannotbe produced from a wind farm. The problem with such intermittent energyproduction is that it is always in a state of flux. This is asignificant issue for both the power generator and the DistributedServices Organization.

Currently, energy produced by renewable resources, such as on theutility side of the grid, may be added on to the grid in a particular,predetermined quantum and at a predetermined time. In instances wheretoo much power is being generated and/or at times when the grid cannotaccommodate that energy, such as without becoming destabilized, therenewable resource power generator will be required to disconnect fromthe grid and/or otherwise discharge the generated energy, therebycreating waste. Simply put, the grid is just not configured forefficiently dealing with the excessive generational spikes, such asabove the established median line (manageable standard set by theoperator), which occurs from renewable resource energy production and/orenergy production on the consumer side of the grid.

Additionally, distributed energy production resources, such as rooftopsolar and/or wind turbine generation on the customer side of the meter,and/or other sources of local generation, have proven problematic forthe legacy grid to handle. For instance, on the consumer side of thegrid, the grid operator currently does not have a way to track, direct,and/or otherwise control the electricity being produced and shoved backonto the grid from the consumer side of renewable resource powerproduction. More particularly, the traditional grid was not designed toaccommodate a bidirectional flow of electricity. With the growing numberof renewable resource power generation systems, such as being installedon the consumer side of the grid, ever increasing amounts of power isnow being attempted to be supplied to the grid from the consumer, wheresuch over generation of power instead of helping to smooth out thedemand curve is actually destabilizing the grid.

Such destabilization makes the grid unmanageable by Distributed ServicesOrganizations that other than price regulation lack proper controlsbeyond the meter to handle the fluctuations due to consumer side powerproduction. This is largely due to the fact that the legacy grid doesnot allow for real time information related to consumer side powerproduction to be relayed to and from the grid, which is made even moreproblematic in view of the uptrend and adoption of consumer sidegeneration. Consequently, on the customer side, local meter-side energyproduction creates its own problems in that any excess energy producedon the consumer side usually has to be shoved back on to the grid andstored thereon thus utilizing the grid as a large battery, yet the gridwas never designed to function in this manner.

For example, Distributed Energy Resources (DERs), such as distributedenergy generators, smart meters, and the like) requires the electricalgrid to act as a battery storage facility by which the customer can callon that power when needed. In some areas, the Distributed ServicesOrganization (DSO) cannot accept any more generation, having to refusecustomers that want to install grid tied, personal use solar panels.This is problematic for everyone involved, especially in those instanceswhere the utility company has to pay consumers “not” to install solarpanels and/or wind turbines. Hence, consumer side power generation hascreated a new problem of bidirectional flow.

Centralized battery storage has been introduced on the utility side ofthe grid, to help compensate for the intermittent nature of commercialrenewable resource energy production, as well as in those instanceswhere energy production, such as during non-peak time energy generationat a peaker plant exceeds that used by the consumer. For instance,commonly, where the over production of energy occurs, that energy istypically wasted. Centralized, grid-size battery storage has beenadvanced as a possible solution to this problem. More particularly, gridside, centralized battery storage is an attempt to mimic traditional gasfired peaker plants.

However, this model is very inefficient for batteries, due to the factthat the battery storage resides on the utility side of the meter. Suchcentralized battery storage only allows the DSO to react to demandevents, it does nothing to address the bidirectional flow from customerside Distributed Energy Resources. Further, such batteries storeelectricity at an overall loss due to conversion from AC (transmission)to DC (storage) and back again. This loss is increased when transmissionis also part of the equation.

In view of the above, it is clear that a major problem with the macrogrid, to date, is that it remains largely unintelligent, and thus, themodern changes in both usage and generation are causing the grid tobecome more and more unstable, resulting in an increased risk of gridoutages. These problems become even more complicated as the macro gridis expected to grow and grow into a super grid. For instance, with therealization of long distance power transmission, such as from the powerproducer to the power distributer, on the transmission grid, and/or fromthe power distributor to the consumer, on the distribution grid, it hasbecome possible, at least theoretically, to interconnect differentcentralized distribution centers with far ranging power generationstations in the hope of being able to more effectively balance loads andimprove load factors and/or create a nation wide grid.

However, in order to implement a nation wide grid, power production andtransmission needs to be synchronous. For instance, power generation anddistribution centers on a city, county, state, and/or nationwide basismay be configured so as to form a synchronous group of production anddistribution areas, which if configured correctly may all operate withsynchronized alternating current frequencies so that the peaks andtroughs of the electricity flows occur at the same time). This allowstransmission of AC electricity throughout the area, connecting a largenumber of electricity generators and/or distribution centers and/orconsumers and potentially enabling more efficient electricity marketsand redundant generation. For instance, a typical synchronized AC grid,can be configured so as to be running at 132 kilovolts and 50 Hertz.

It was hoped that such networked interconnectivity would convert themacro grid into larger and larger versions of the grid that would bestate, nation, or even continent wide. There have been several proposalsfor how such larger grids could be implemented, however, according tothe proposed plans, to do so would expectedly require a dramaticincrease in transmission capacity, fine tuned internal control, as wellas a synchronized global communications protocol. All of these wouldrequire a huge outlay of financial resources possibly escalating intothe billions of dollars range.

The benefits of such a nation or even continent wide grid are compellingand include enabling the energy production industry to sell electricityto distant markets, thereby increasing competition, the ability toincrease usage of intermittent energy sources by balancing them acrossvast geological regions, and the removal of congestion and commoditylike billing structures that prevents electricity markets fromflourishing. However, in order for such large-scale grids to beimplemented, some major hurdles must be overcome. For instance, itsimplementation faces local opposition to the siting of new lines andbuilding out the necessary physical infrastructure, there aresignificant upfront cost to these projects, and there are majordifficulties inherent in managing the energy flow and communicationsnecessary for enabling a true county, state, or even nationwide grid.

Further, a necessary component of such a large grid that is yet to bedeveloped and adopted, therefore, is a sufficient management system thatis capable of multi-county, multi-state, nationwide and/or continentwide communication as well as grid management on all of the powergeneration, distribution, and consumer consumption sides of the grid. Amacro grid management system is the subsystem of the electric grid thatprovides management and control services to the macro grid. It requiresa huge infrastructure that is controlled and run by massive computerbanks, in response to a multiplicity of grid related monitors andsensors, as well as in response to the totality of individual usagescenarios.

Typically, these management systems are run in isolation of one anotheron a county by county, state by state basis making inter connectivityand overall grid management extremely difficult, if not impossible. Forinstance, as the macro grid expands into becoming a mega grid, such asby attempting to provide service to ever increasing areas of demand, thevarious different, respective electric macro grids will need to beconfigured so as to run synchronously, and consequently, they will needto be able to communicate and interact with one another. Moreparticularly, in a large-scale, maximally efficient synchronous supergrid, various different power generators should be configured to run notonly at the same frequency but also in the same phase, such as whereeach generator is maintained by a local governor that regulates thedriving torque, for instance, by controlling the steam supply to theturbine driving it.

However, maintaining such synchronicity can be problematic. Forinstance, in an efficient grid energy should be consumed almostinstantaneously as it is produced, generation and consumption,therefore, should be balanced across the entire macro, mega, and/orsuper grid. Consequently, the grid management system needs to be closelycontrolled to mirror the demand curve with the supply curve.

For example, demand is the usage of electricity, e.g., the drawing ofelectricity from the grid by the consumer, where the demand curve is dueto the ever-fluctuating usage by the collective of serviced consumers atany given point in time. Thus, demand curves differ from location tolocation, and from time to time. Supply, on the other hand, is theprovision of electricity to the grid, where the supply curve is due tothe throttling up or down of power generation, e.g., of fossil fuel orrenewable resource power generation, in a manner to meet the fluctuatingusage of the demand curve. This becomes problematic as the size of thegrid servicing a multiplicity of communities increases, because the taskof matching the supply curve to the demand curve becomes increasinglymore complicated and difficult. In such situations, the managementsystem is under constant pressure as it tries to find and maintain abalance that is equal between generation and need.

More specifically, over capacity (excessive generation) as well as undercapacity (greater demand than supply) creates an unstable electricalgrid. And both situations can lead to power outages. Particularly, alarge failure in one part of the grid, unless quickly compensated for,can cause current to re-route itself to flow from the remaininggenerators to consumers over transmission lines of insufficient capacityto handle the extent of the travel, causing further failures, whichfailures if left unchecked can lead to a cascading shutdown. Hence, ahuge downside to a widely connected and/or synchronous macro grid isthus the increased possibility of cascading failure and widespread poweroutage.

More particularly, the more complex the grid becomes the greater thepotential for brown and/or black outs. Accordingly, in order to be fullyoperational on an international, national, state, or even on a countywide basis, electronic circuitry required for running, managing, andcontrolling the electric grid, e.g., a universal grid management system,must be constructed, which requires extensive research and development.

Additionally, such an international and/or nation wide gird wouldrequire enormous upfront costs for the land, generators, computers, andequipment, as well as demanding a large amount of manpower to build andrun the necessary infrastructure. More particularly, in order for such auniversal management system to be run efficiently it would need to besmart. So being, in order to be smart, it would also need to be energyefficient, and all of its supply and demand profiles, utilityconfigurations, cost models, and emission standards would need to beimproved, such as by optimizing and building out the localinfrastructures and control mechanisms.

For instance, within the advanced infrastructure framework of a smartgrid, more and more new management services and software applicationsare needed to emerge so as to eventually revolutionize the macro gridand enhance the consumers' daily lives. However, to date, the legacygrid does not have a management system or the physical infrastructurethat is capable of adequately dealing with the ever-increasing demandfluctuations of a consumer base that is rapidly growing. Further, thecurrent macro grid is simply not set up to deal with the inconsistenciesof solar and/or wind supply, in addition to the vulgarities ofintermittent usage. Accordingly, the present macro grid needs to beupdated, e.g., it needs to become intelligent or smart, so that it candeal with an increasing amount of inconsistent demand as well asgeneration.

What is needed, and presented herein, therefore is a bottom up solutionthat can revolutionize the way the legacy grid functions, withoutnecessarily having to completely rebuild the entirety of existing local,regional, and/or macro grid networks.

SUMMARY

Accordingly, presented herein are apparatuses, systems, and methods forstoring energy from and supplying energy to the electric grid in amanner that can function to make the legacy grid smart at the same timeas stabilizing the electric grid as well as making it resilient enoughto handle the fluctuations caused by intermittent peak use demand aswell as intermittent power generation, such as caused by renewableresource power production.

Hence, in a first aspect, the present disclosure is directed to anenergy storage unit such as for storing energy to an electric grid, suchas during a time period of low cost power generation, and further forsupplying energy to the electric grid, e.g., a super, mega, macro,micro, nano, pico, and/or fento electric grid, such as during a timeperiod of high cost power generation. In such an instance, the energystorage unit may include one or more of an electrical inlet and/orinput, an energy storage cell, an electrical outlet and/or output,and/or a control unit.

More particularly, the energy storage unit may include an electricalinlet and/or input for being electrically coupled to the electric grid,where the electrical inlet is configured for receiving electricity fromthe electric grid. The energy storage cell may be electrically coupledto the electrical inlet, and may be configured for receiving and storingthe electricity received from the electric grid by the electrical inlet.The energy storage unit may further include an electrical outlet and/oroutput where the electrical outlet may be electrically coupled betweenthe energy storage cell and the electric grid, and configured to receiveat least some of the electricity stored by the storage cell, such as tosupply that electricity to the electric grid, for instance, when theelectrical outlet is electrically coupled to the electric grid.

Additionally, the energy storage unit may include a control unit thatmay be coupled to one or more of the electrical input, the storage cell,and the electrical output. In various instances, the control unit may beconfigured for determining and/or controlling a first time when theelectricity will be received by the electrical inlet, such as from theelectric grid, and/or other source of power generation, so as to bestored within the storage cell, and further for determining andcontrolling a second time when the electricity will be output from thestorage cell and supplied to the electric grid and/or applianceassociated therewith, such as via the electrical outlet. Further, invarious embodiments, the control unit may be configured for controllingthe energy storage unit with respect to storing a first amount ofelectricity received from a source of electricity generation, e.g.,received by the inlet, such as within the energy storage cell, andreleasing a second amount of electricity from the energy storage cell,e.g., post storage.

In various embodiments, the energy storage unit may include a housing,such as a housing that includes at least one extended member or wall,such as a mounting wall that is configured for retaining one or both ofthe energy storage cell and/or a control unit. In certain embodiments,the housing may be of any shape and/or any size so as to accommodate thenumber of energy storage cells sufficient to achieve the storagecapacity desired. In various instances, the housing may have a pluralityof extended members that are configured as one or more sets of opposedside walls, which side walls can be positioned so as to form an openingbetween the walls. In such an instance, the housing may house one ormore energy storage cells, such as a storage cell that may be coupled toat least one of the walls of the housing.

The energy storage cell may include a top bounding member, a bottombounding member, and an extended body separating the top bounding memberfrom the bottom bounding member, such as where the top bounding member,bottom bounding member, and extended body together can be formed so asto bound a reservoir. The reservoir may be configured so as to contain achemical medium therein, such as a chemical medium that is configuredfor storing a first amount of electricity, such as in the form ofchemical energy, and may further be configured for converting the storedchemical energy into a second amount of electricity. Hence, in variousembodiments, the energy storage unit may be configured for controllablycharging and/or discharging the energy within the storage cell.

In such an instance, the energy storage cell may additionally include aplurality of electrodes, such as a plurality of electrodes that havebeen configured so as to receive the first and second amounts ofelectricity. Each of the plurality of electrodes may have a proximalportion, an extended body, and a distal portion, where at least thedistal portion of the electrodes extends into the reservoir and is incontact with the chemical medium. The electrodes may function byconverting the first amount of electricity into chemical energy, andfurther for converting the chemical energy into the second amount ofelectricity.

Both the electrical inlet and the electrical outlet may at least bepartially contained within the housing, where the electrical inlet maybe configured for receiving the first amount of electricity from thesource of power generation, and/or configured for transmitting thatelectricity to the control unit. Additionally, the electrical outlet maybe electrically connected to the control unit, such as for receiving thesecond amount of electricity from the control unit and may further beconfigured for emitting the received second amount of electricity suchas from the energy storage unit, e.g., upon command of the control unit.In various instances, the electrical inlet and outlet may be part of anelectrical inlet system, and/or an electrical outlet system.

The control unit may be electrically connected to the electrical inletand the plurality of electrodes, and configured for controlling one ormore of the receipt of the first amount of electricity from theelectrical inlet, the conversion of the first amount of electricity intochemical energy, the conversion of the chemical energy into the secondamount of electricity, and the emitting of the second amount ofelectricity by the electrical outlet. Furthermore, in variousembodiments, the control unit may be configured for controlling theconversion of the first amount of electricity to chemical energy forstorage within the storage cell, for controlling the conversion of thechemical energy to the second amount of electricity, and for directingthe second amount of electricity to the electrical output system forrelease thereby.

Accordingly, in various instances, the energy storage unit along withits component parts, such as the control unit, the energy storage cell,and/or one or more suitably configured inlet and/or outlet systems, maybe configured for receiving a first alternating current, such as via theinlet, converting the first alternating current into a first directcurrent, converting the first direct current into chemical energy, suchas within the chemical media of the energy storage cell, converting thechemical energy into a second direct current, converting the seconddirect current into a second alternating current, and disbursing thesecond alternating current, such as via the outlet. In such an instance,the control unit may be configured for receiving the first alternatingcurrent and converting the first alternating current into the firstdirect current, transmitting the first direct current to the energystorage cell, and further configured for receiving the second directcurrent from the energy storage cell, converting the second directcurrent to the second alternating current, and transmitting the seconddirect current to the electrical output system.

In another aspect, an energy flow augmenting system may be provided,such as for storing and supplying energy to the electric grid. Invarious embodiments, the energy flow augmenting system may include anelectric grid, and an energy storage unit, such as described above,where the energy storage unit may include or otherwise be coupled to acontrol unit, for instance, for controlling a first time when theelectricity will be received by an electrical input from the electricgrid, and for controlling a second time, such as when the electricitywill be output from the storage cell and supplied to the electric grid,for instance via the electrical output. In various instances, the energyflow augmenting system may include a command center, such as a remotecommand system having a communications module, where the communicationsmodule may be configured for sending control commands to the controlunit of the energy storage unit, such as via a communications network.In such an instance, the control commands may be directed towardaugmenting energy flow across the electric grid such as by commandingthe control unit to control the energy storage unit to withdraw energyfrom the electrical grid based on a storage need, and to control theenergy storage unit to release energy to the electrical grid based on asupply need. In one particular instance, the electric grid is configuredfor transmitting electricity from the electricity generation source toat least one electricity consumer.

For instance, in one embodiment, a system is provided wherein the systemmay include a power generator, such as a traditional fossil fuel orrenewable resource source of power generation, which power generator isconfigured to generate an amount of electricity, such as a first amountof electricity. The system may further include at least one energystorage unit, which storage unit may be electrically coupled with thepower generator, and may include an energy storage cell that contains achemical medium for receiving a first amount of electricity, e.g.,generated by the power generator, and storing it as chemical energy, andfurther configured for converting the chemical energy into a secondamount of electricity. The system may additionally include a controlunit for controlling the transmitting of the first electricity to theenergy storage cell, and for controlling the transmitting of the secondelectricity from the energy storage unit to one or more consumptiondevices remote from the energy storage unit.

In another aspect a method for augmenting an electrical grid thatdistributes electricity to a geographical region is provided. The methodmay include one or more of the following steps. For instance, the methodmay include deploying one or more energy storage units, as describedherein, to the geographical region, where each energy storage unit isconfigured for receiving and storing the electricity received from theelectric grid, and further configured for releasing at least some of theelectricity stored to the grid so as to supply energy to the grid asneeded. For example, the energy storage unit may include a control unitfor controlling a first time when the electricity will be received andstored by the energy storage unit, and controlling a second time whenthe at least some of the electricity will be output from the storageunit and supplied to the electric grid. In various instances, thecontrol unit includes a user interface to receive user commands toprogram the control unit to withdraw energy from the electric grid andto supply energy to the electric grid.

The method may additionally include determining a peak demand timeperiod for electricity demand in the geographical region, and a non-peakdemand time period for the electricity demand in the geographicalregion; and the method may further include controlling at least onecontrol unit that is connected to the energy storage unit(s). In certaininstances, the controlling of the control unit may include one or moreof: enabling selected energy storage units to withdraw electricity fromthe electric grid, such as during the non-peak demand time period forelectricity demand in the region, and store the withdrawn electricity asenergy; and additionally enabling the selected energy storage units tosupply the energy to the electric grid as electricity during the peakdemand time period for electricity demand within the geographicalregion.

In a particular instance, the enabling may include enabling the selectedenergy storage units to supply the energy to the electric grid aselectricity on or near the peak demand time of the time period forelectricity demand within the geographical region, and the method mayfurther include supplying at least some of the electricity to the gridor an electric appliance from the energy storage unit on or near thepeak demand time of the time period for electricity demand within thegeographical region. Hence, in some instances, the energy storage unitmay be coupled to an electric appliance, and/or may further beconfigured for supplying electricity to the electric appliance.Additionally, in certain instances, the control unit of the energystorage unit may include a processor for controlling a plurality offunctions of the control unit, and the enabling controlled by thecontroller may be performed by a processor of the control unit. Invarious embodiments, the control unit may include a memory, e.g., forstoring the user commands and the program, and may include acommunication interface for communicating with a remote server via acommunications network. In certain particular embodiments, the energystorage unit(s) may include a battery, which battery may be integratedinto an electric appliance.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent to those skilled in the art after considering thefollowing detailed description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals designate like partsthroughout, and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an architecture of an energy storage unit havinga converter associated therewith for DC to DC conversion.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the system of the present invention showingthe appliance control unit, appliances, the energy cloud, and otherentities that may communicate with the energy cloud, such as a utilityprovider.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of an alternative embodiment of the presentinvention showing the control system separated from the power system butstill housed on the same chassis. In this embodiment, the system mayreturn power to the grid through the use of an inverter.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of another alternative embodiment of thepresent invention showing control system housed in a separate chassisfrom the power unit.

FIG. 5 is a block diagram of another alternative embodiment of thepresent invention showing the power units integrated into theappliances.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In view of the above, it can be seen that the current electrical grid,e.g., the legacy grid, does not necessarily refer to any particularphysical layout of any particular breadth. However, the electrical grid,as commonly understood, denotes a series of local community networksthat includes one or a number of power generation facilities and/or oneor more distribution centers, all of which run in sync to provideelectricity to the local consumers served by the network, where such anetwork on a region wide basis is often referred to as a macro grid.

More particularly, such wide-scale dispersed, networked regional gridsare typically built upon a series of local or regional utilities'electrical transmission and/or distribution networks that service one ormore local communities. As these various local community networks beginto become more far reaching and synchronized with one another so as toservice one or more cities within a region in conjunction with oneanother, these local grid networks begin to take on the characteristicsof a macro grid, capable of servicing a plurality of cities within aregion, or even a plurality of regions within one or a plurality ofstates. Further, as these micro grids begin to become synchronized withone another across state lines, such as into a nationwide electricalnetwork, they are referred to herein as mega grids, and finally, as suchmega grids begin to cross international boundaries they can become supergrids, as herein described.

However, as explained above, there are many problems that regularlythreaten to shut down any given grid network, such as by causingdestabilizations therein. These destabilizations make the synchronicityrequired to build and/or maintain all the various macro grids inalignment and/or to form several macro girds into one or more megagrids, and/or a super grid, very difficult to create. For instance,these problems are compounded exponentially when several mega grids areneeded to run synchronously, such as in the formation of a nationwidemega grid and/or an international super grid.

For example, as indicated above, current macro grids are comprised ofoutdated generators and generation facilities, archaic transmissionlines, as well as outmoded distribution centers and/or distributionlines. As such, as referred to herein, such macro grids comprised ofthese archaic infrastructures are termed generally as the legacy grid.The main problem with the legacy grid is that it is designed to besimple and linear. As such it does not typically support complex usageand/or generation patterns that result in fluctuations within the grid,such as that which occurs with intense regularity during peak timeusage. Peak time energy usage causes spikes in the grid floor on the useside, such as during the part of the day when use is greatest, e.g.,when the ambient temperature is the hottest or coldest, such as when themost people are at home and consuming large quantities of electricity.However, as the consumer and their needs are fickle, there is presentlyno way of determining how much demand will be hitting the grid from dayto day at any given moment in time. Simply put, with its archaicinfrastructure and lack of comprehensive control mechanisms, the legacygrid is just not configured for dealing with the fluctuations caused byintermittent usage, such as times of peak demand, and this is made evenmore complicated when fluctuating consumer side generation is added tothe equation, such as during times of collective peak generation. Thelegacy grid was not designed with the bidirectional flow of electricityin mind.

Although there have been several solutions proposed for dealing with theproblems that lead to grid destabilizations, for instance, such as thosecaused by peak time usage and/or peak time consumer side generation, inthe pursuit of building a mega or even a nationwide or internationalsuper grid, these proposals have largely focused on various top downsolutions often based on the need for significant investments ofcapital, sizably dispersed super-computer networking facilities, and alarge amount of human resources so as to rebuild the entireinfrastructure from the top down. What is needed, and presented hereinhowever, is a bottom up solution that can revolutionize the way thelegacy grid functions, without necessarily having to completely rebuildthe entirety of existing local, regional, and/or macro grid networks.

Accordingly, what is presented herein are novel apparatuses, methods ofusing these apparatuses, and systems built on such uses, which whenimplemented on a large scale will revolutionize the current powergeneration and electrical distribution networks both locally andregionally as well as on a nationwide and/or international scale,without requiring large scale dismantling and rebuilding of the variouslegacy electrical networks.

More specifically, it has been determined that a top down, completeoverhaul of the current electrical grid, requiring the entiredismantling of large portions of the legacy grid, so as to build largemega and even super grids, such as to form an enormous, synchronousnational and/or international super grid, is an unworkable solution tothe nation's need for universal, stable energy production. Such asolution is unworkable in view of the enormous amount of money, time,and resources it would require to dismantle the old network and build anentirely new network, not to mention the wide spread inconveniences itwould cause to the individual consumers being serviced by thesenetworks.

The solution presented herein, on the other hand, centers around aground-up solution starting from the consumer side of the grid, e.g., inthe homes and businesses of the local electricity customers. What isproposed is a wide network of smart grid assets, which may include andbe founded upon a number of distributive energy storage units, whichsmart grid assets can be placed on the distribution and/or consumer sideof the grid, and can be controlled synchronously by national, regional,and/or even local grid operators.

In particular, where the smart grid asset is one or more energy storageunits, these storage units can be formed of one or more configurableenergy storage cells along with one or more control units, so as to forma smart energy storage unit that can be placed intentionally throughoutthe grid network in a manner sufficient to become an integral part ofelectricity storage and distribution so as to thereby becomeinstrumental to overall grid management. Where the smart grid asset is asmart power generator, distribution mechanism, transformer, and/or oneor more transmission and/or distribution lines, these smart grid assetscan be configured to include and/or be controlled by one or more smartasset control units, herein described, so as to form a smart electricitysupply grid that can be coupled with one or more of the smart energystorage units so as to provide fine-tuned control to the smart assetsplaced intentionally throughout the grid network and thereby finelycontrol the amount of energy being supplied to the grid and enhancingoverall grid management.

More particularly, in particular embodiments, provided herein are “smartenergy storage cells” that make up one or more “smart energy storageunits,” which in some embodiments may be configured as one or more“smart batteries.” These smart energy storage units can be strategicallydistributed throughout the gird, such as in the homes and businesses ofthe end users of electricity, wherein each of the smart energy storageunits is designed so as to withdraw and store energy from the grid, andfurther may be configured to release and push stored energy on to thegrid. Hence, in such instances, the smart energy storage units may bemade smart by including a smart control unit that is operably coupled toone or more of the energy storage cells of the smart unit, and may beconfigured for directing the individual and/or collective of storagecells to store or supply energy from or to the grid.

In order to perform such functions, the smart energy storage unit mayinclude one or more of a current rectifier, inverter, and/or aconverter, such as to invert and/or convert one form of current intoanother form of current, such as an AC to DC rectifier, and/or a DC toAC inverter and/or a DC to DC and/or AC to AC converter. This may beuseful where the electricity to be stored enters the system as one formof current, such as AC off of the grid, and needs to be converted into adifferent form of current, such as DC, in order to be stored within thestorage cells, such as chemical potential energy. Accordingly, the smartenergy storage control unit may include a control mechanism that isconfigured to allow two-way transmission with the grid, and may furtherbe configured so as to be operated by one or more of a power generator,grid operator, electricity service provider, electricity consumer, orthird party regulator or monitor to control the smart asset, e.g.,energy storage unit, in a manner that will allow the grid itself tobecome “smart,” such as without requiring the massive rebuilding of gridinfrastructure.

More particularly, in various instances, the individual energy storagecells and/or the storage units themselves may be coupled with a one,two, or three-way or more power converter (e.g., an AC to DC, and/or aDC to AC, and/or an AC to DC to AC power converter) which powerconverter may be a separate device from the control mechanism, or may becircuitry operation therewith, such that the power converter isconfigured to function to convert the electricity to be stored, e.g., inone or more forms of AC or DC power, into a form whereby the electricitymay be received within the energy storage unit and converted to a fromappropriate for storage within the one or more energy storage cells,such as in DC form.

For instance, an energy storage unit and/or the energy storage cellsassociated therewith may be coupled to a power converter, such as anconverter that is capable of changing AC power to DC power, such as forenergy storage, and the same convert or a separate inverter may furtherbe capable of changing DC power into AC power, such as for energysupply. Additionally, in various instances, the individual energystorage cells and/or the storage units themselves may be coupled with apower converter, such as a power converter that is configured forconverting one form of DC or AC to another form of DC or AC, such as,for instance, converting DC or AC power at one voltage into DC or ACpower at another, e.g., higher or lower, voltage, such as in a processof stepping up or stepping down to a particular voltage.

In general, one or more power conversion and/or inversion and/orrectifier units may be included so as to create parody between powersources. For instance, in various particular instances, an energystorage unit may include one or more of a power converter and/or a powerinverter and/or a rectifier, such as a one or two-way power converterthat is capable of converting AC power to DC power and/or DC power to ACpower, and/or a power converter capable of stepping up or down theparticular voltage of power, so as to create parody between powersources and/or the grid.

Further, as indicated, one or more, e.g., each individual energy storagecell, and/or one or more individual storage units may include one ormore control mechanisms that are configured for controlling one or morefunctions of the energy storage cells, one or more storage units, one ormore conversion and/or inversion units, such as with respect to thecharging, e.g., withdrawing energy from the grid, and storage of thatenergy within the one or more storage cells within one or more storageunits, and/or with respect to the discharging of energy therefrom, suchas in supplying energy to the grid, such as in time of need. Forinstance, any suitable mechanism capable of controlling the chargingand/or discharging of one or more of the energy storage cells of one ormore energy storage units either individually or corporately may beused. For example, each energy storage cell of an energy storage unitmay include a media configured for receiving a current, e.g., anelectrical current, and storing a portion of the energy inherent thereinin an alternative, e.g., chemical, form.

In general, any suitable energy storage media may be used as the storagemedium for the energy to be stored. Accordingly, in various instances,the energy storage unit may be any unit having one or more energystorage cells having a storage media, e.g., a chemical composition, thatis capable of storing energy, e.g., electric energy, within itscomposition, e.g., within its chemical composition, which energy may bewithdrawn therefrom, such as upon command, e.g., of the controlmechanism. Further, where the energy is to be stored within a chemicalcomposition, the energy storage cell and/or storage unit may include oneor more electrodes, such as one or more positive and/or one or morenegative electrodes, e.g., one or more cathodes and anodes,respectively.

Any suitable control mechanism may be employed. However, in oneembodiment, a DRMS control platform may be included, such as where theDRMS is configured for gathering information and acting as a coordinatorbetween the service provider and/or user and the energy storage unititself. Additionally, in various embodiments, a Smart Asset ManagementSystem (SAMS) may be provided, such as where the SAMS may be anintegrated, multilevel electricity monitoring and control applicationthat may be configured for enabling the electric grid controlorganizations, such as Utilities and DSO's, to fully manage conventionaland distributed energy resources throughout the grid so as to ensuregrid stability and reliable power delivery, maximize renewable energyemployment, optimize efficiency of transmission and distributionresources, improve grid infrastructure reliability, and enhance theconsumer's overall energy experience. Such SAMS software may beimplemented at all levels of the grid segmentation, e.g., super grid,mega grid, macro grid, micro grid, nano grid, pico grid, and fento grid,with each level capable of and/or configured for communicating with oneor more, e.g., all, of the others. The Smart macro grid does not yetexist so, the apparatuses and methods disclosed herein, along with theSAMS control functionality is an enabler to make it a reality using abottom-up approach that will effectively evolve the current, legacy gridinto a true smart grid.

SAMS functionality may include the collection of energy information,such as where energy information is collected at the lowest level andcommunicated upward so as to be aggregated. Such collected informationmay include energy storage cell charge level, storage unit health andoperability, and electricity flow and direction. At each level SAMS mayconduct an analysis and provide decision support services that enablethe DSO to optimize energy employment. Control of the distributed smartenergy resources, hence, may be accomplished at each grid level (e.g.,micro grid, nano grid, pico grid, etc.) through assessment of ability tomeet prioritized requirements.

In various instances, a suitable control mechanism, such as thosedescribed herein, may include and be configured to control one or moreof the smart grid assets described herein such as a power generator,distribution mechanism, transformer, and/or one or more transmissionand/or distribution lines. For instance, in such an instance, a suitablecontrol mechanism may include an embedded controller, such as for powergeneration, transmission and distribution components of the grid.Additionally, being configurable, such smart energy storage cells mayvary in size and capacity dependent on the needs and desires of theconsumer and/or electricity service provider. For instance, the typicalsize of a smart storage unit, such as for in-home or business consumeruse, may include one or more individual storage cells, which collectionof storage cells form the storage unit. More specifically, an energystorage unit may be composed of a number of storage cells, where eachstorage cell is stackable so as to provide a storage unit that can varywith respect to its configuration and storage capacity.

Accordingly, each energy storage cell may have any shape, size, and/orcapacity dependent on the overall capacity of the storage unit to bedeployed. Hence, the storage unit may include one, two, three, four,five, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, fifty,one hundred, two-hundred and fifty, five hundred, or even one thousandor more (or any number there between) storage cells. Further, a suitableenergy storage cell may have a shape that may be one or more of acircle, triangle, square, rectangle, rhomboid, and a round, pyramidal,cube shape, and the like. But in one particular embodiment, the smartenergy storage unit may have a capacity of 2 KWh, and may include 10energy storage cells. In various embodiments, the energy storage cellsare configured for taking the energy transmitted in an electricalcurrent and storing it as chemical potential energy, and therefore atypical storage cell may be configured to retain one or more chemicalcompositions.

As indicated above, in certain instances, each individual energy storagecell, and/or the energy storage unit itself, may include an individualcontrol mechanism, or the collection of storage cells that form astorage unit may share a common control mechanism(s), whereby eachindividual storage cell and/or the storage unit itself may be madesmart. As such, the overall storage unit may include a number ofindividual storage cells, which storage cells may be configured to becontrolled individually and/or collectively, such as by one or morecontrol mechanisms thereby making the overall storage unit smart. Aseach energy storage unit may vary with respect to the number, size,shape, and/or capacity of the energy storage cells it includes, thesize, shape, and/or capacity of each individual storage unit maylikewise vary.

Further, in various instances, one or more, e.g., each, smart asset,such as each energy storage cell and/or each storage unit, may include awired or wireless gateway such as for communications, monitoring, and/orcontrolling of the respective energy storage cell and/or unit. Forinstance, one or more of the energy storage cells and/or units thereofmay be equipped with one or more communications apparatuses allowing forone or more of the receipt and/or the transmission of communications,such as for the controlling of one or more characteristics of thatcell(s) and/or unit(s), such as with respect to the charging and/ordischarging of energy.

Accordingly, in various instances, the smart energy storage cells and/orunit may include a communications mechanism capable of receiving aremote signal, such as from a remote controller, such as a powergenerator, supplier, consumer, and/or third party regulator or monitordesirous of controlling, regulating, or monitoring the storage unit,where the control signal may be capable of controlling the charge and/ordischarge of the one or more smart energy storage cells included in theone or more smart energy storage units. Additionally, the communicationsmechanism of the smart storage cell and/or unit may be capable ofsending a signal, such as a signal characterizing one or more usageparameters or related data to the remote controller, e.g., a powergenerator, utility service provider, consumer, and/or third partyregulator or monitor which controller can then act on the received dataso as to process and send control commands back to the communicationsmodule of the smart unit, such as where the receiving controller entityis located in a processing and/or control center located at acentralized service and/or management facility. In various instances,the control signal may be sent from and/or the data signal may be sentto a third party electronic control device, such as a desktop or mobilecomputer, tablet, smart phone, PDA, and the like, such as that operatedby the user of the smart energy storage unit.

A typical communications protocol may be implemented in a wired orwireless configuration. Such wired or wireless communications may becarried out for a number of reasons such as for monitoring and/orcontrolling the smart grid asset, such as for controlling the chargeand/or discharge of the smart energy unit, as well as for reportingvarious usage parameters with respect thereto. For instance, eachindividual smart asset, e.g., each energy storage cell and/or unit mayinclude one or more communications apparatuses so as to be capable ofbeing networked together, such as in a wired or wireless configuration,so as to form a network of smart grid assets, e.g., energy storage cellsand/or units. For example, a smart grid asset such as an energy storageunit as presented herein may include one or several layers ofcommunication connections for receiving and/or transmitting inputsand/or outputs, such as in a highly modular form. These inputs and/oroutput connections may include, but are not limited to one or more of acomputer based communications mechanism such as a USB, Ethernet, PowerLine Control (PLC), API, and the like, and/or a wireless communicationsprotocol such as Zigbee, WiFi, Bluetooth, Low Energy Bluetooth,Cellular, Dash7, RS232, and the like.

Accordingly, where each smart energy storage cell and/or unit includes acontrol mechanism that includes one or more communications modules, aplurality of such storage units, or the individual cells includedtherein, may be connected, e.g., in a wired or wireless configuration,so as to communicate with one another and/or with one or more gridcontrollers, e.g., a power generator, and/or electricity serviceprovider, and/or energy consumer, and/or third party controller ormonitor, which communications may be performed such that during certainevents, such as during times of under or over energy production, storedpower can be pooled for critical loads so as to push power back to thegrid, e.g., during peak time events, and/or excess energy can be pulledfrom the grid and stored in the energy storage cell(s), e.g., during offpeak time events. For instance, via the included communications modules,one or more of the smart assets, e.g., the smart energy storage cellsand/or units, may be networked together, e.g., to form a circuit, andmay be configured to receive inputs from and/or send data to a largevariety of different types of users, including consumers, on the useside; utility provides on distribution side; and/or generators on thegeneration side; which smart grid assets may further change theiractivity status based on the received and/or sent communications.

For example, the electric grid is often a very complex system requiringconstant interaction in order to maintain stable operation. Having aremote and/or virtual communications platform included in the smart gridasset, e.g., in the energy storage cells and/or units herein disclosed,allows grid operators to more effectively manage the remote gird assets,such as the instant storage units, power generators, peaker plants,and/or transmission and distribution lines, and to be proactivelyalerted when changes in the grid occur. Accordingly, the apparatuses,networks and systems disclosed herein provide the electricitygenerators, service providers, users, and/or third parties with a muchgreater ability to have clear and effective communications as to gridand/or asset status, thereby helping to manage customer sited assets,e.g., smart energy storage units positioned on the consumer side of thegrid.

More particularly, the control mechanism in addition to thecommunications module may be configured so as to receive one or morecommands and/or otherwise transmit data, such as via a cloud interface,such as through a web based interface. For instance, the control unitmay include a plurality of controllers, such as one on the control orservice side and one on the implementation or consumer side of the grid,where the communications between the two may be provided through a wiredor wireless connection via the World Wide Web. For example, the controlunit of the smart asset may include a service side operated controlmechanism that is capable of receiving, compiling, and processing inputsfrom one or a plurality of smart energy storage cells and/or units,e.g., on the consumer side of the grid, such as data related toindividual and/or collective use profiles; and may further be configuredfor receiving inputs from one or more smart assets on the service sideof the gird, and in response to the received and/or compiled, and/orprocessed data, the control unit may send instructions to thecorresponding control mechanisms of the smart assets, such as the one ormore smart energy storage units, on the consumer side of the grid, withwhich the grid side controller is networked, which network may bethrough a web-based and/or cellular portal.

Consequently, the use and/or control of the smart assets, e.g., smartenergy storage units, networks, and systems presented herein may bethrough a web based and/or cellular communications protocol, and mayinclude transmitting and/or receiving data, information, and/orinstructions, e.g., regarding unit and/or system control functions,which control functions may be determined and/or operated through a webbased interface, such as a graphical user interface. In such a manner asthis, a remote controller, such as a utility provider, can send controlinstructions or directions to one or more of the smart assets and/orenergy storage units with which it is networked, such as via a web basedinterface, and thereby control the functioning of the smart asset, e.g.,storage units, such as with respect to charging and discharging of oneor more, e.g., a fraction or all of the cell(s) of the storage unit.

As indicated above, the energy storage cells and/or units may bedesigned to be modular, such as by being configured so as to be expandedor retracted in size, shape, and/or capacity; and in such an instance,the individual energy storage units may be configured to be adapted tothe shape and/or size of the storage facility wherein the energy storageunits are to be positioned, e.g., where the energy is to be stored. Assuch, the energy storage cells and units disclosed herein, in variousembodiments, may be sized and positioned so as to be stored locally,such as at the site of usage by the consumer, e.g., on the consumer sideof the grid, and can be electrically connected to the grid in varioussuitable manners, such as by being plugged into an outlet, and/ordirectly wired to the electricity control panel, and/or meter or thelike.

For instance, in one particular embodiment, as implemented in anexemplary system, a suitably smart energy storage unit can be connectedto the grid, e.g., simply by plugging the storage unit into an electricgrid interface, such as to a standard or customized outlet, e.g., viathe male end of a two or three prong plug, or it may be connected to thegrid by actually hardwiring the storage unit into the service panel, oreven directly to the electronic circuitry of an appliance.

In other instances, the connection of the smart energy storage unit withthe grid can be made directly by connecting the storage unit to theelectrical panel, which can yield either a specific, e.g., external,circuit connection; or can yield a multi-circuit connection, such aswhere it may be desired to be able to switch between being electricallyconnected to the external grid, or to be partially or completely removedfrom the grid, and rather service a given internal circuit, e.g., amicro or nano grid, etc. that is separated from the external, e.g.,macro grid, thereby islanding the internal network, as described ingreater detail herein below.

Further, in various instances, the control mechanism and thecommunications module of the smart asset, e.g., of the energy storageunits and/or the energy storage cells included therein, may becommunicably and/or operably coupled together, so as to further make thesmart asset, e.g., the storage unit, smart. In such an instance, thecontrol mechanism of the smart asset, e.g., energy storage cell and/orunit, may be configured so as to be operated remotely. For instance,where the smart asset is an energy storage unit, the storage unit mayinclude one or both of a control mechanism and a communications module,such as where the control mechanism is operably coupled to thecommunications module in a manner such that the control mechanism can becontrolled by instructions received by the communications module, asdescribed in greater detail herein below. Further, as described below,the smart asset, e.g., the energy storage unit, may include a sensorand/or monitor for sensing one or more conditions of one or more of thegrid assets disclosed herein.

In various instances, the control mechanism may be configured so as tobe able to receive command instructions, such as from one or more of: acentralized controller, such as controlled by a grid operator or energyservice provider; a remote controller, such as controlled by theelectricity consumer and/or a third party regulator or monitor; and/ordirectly, such as being controlled by a user interface that iselectrically coupled to the control mechanism. More particularly, thecontrol mechanism of the smart asset, e.g., energy storage unit, may becontrolled by one or more central processing units (CPUs), such as acore of CPUs that may be positioned remotely from the storage unitswhich they are in communications with, such as at a centralizedprocessing facility, for instance, located at a power supply plant, aservice provider center, a third party regulator complex, or the like.

In various instances, the local control mechanism of the energy storageunit, which may be operated and/or controlled remotely from the localstorage units, may be configured so as to control when, where, and/orhow one or more of the collective of energy storage units and/or storagecells is charging and/or discharging and for how long, e.g., theduration and rate of charge and/or discharge. More specifically, thecontrol units can be controlled remotely, e.g., by a grid operator,energy service provider, user, and/or third party regulator or monitor,in a manner sufficient to instruct each of the smart grid assets how andwhen to operate, such as to control each individual energy storageunit(s), or one or more, e.g., each, energy storage cell includedtherein, to independently or collectively charge, thereby receiving andstoring energy from the grid; and/or to discharge, thereby supplyingenergy to the grid. Where these energy storage cells and/or units arepositioned at one or more, e.g., a plurality, of positions along thegrid, a network of distributed smart energy storage may be formed, suchas in a manner so as to form a smart grid covering those portions of thenetwork where the distributed storage units are positioned.

Accordingly, this network of distributed smart assets, e.g., energystorage cells and units, therefore, may then be used to supply energy tothe grid when needed, e.g., during times of peak usage; and where smartenergy storage units are included, to withdraw and store energy from thegrid, such as in off peak times and/or times of over energy production.In a manner such as this, the grid may be stabilized, such as duringtimes of peak demand, for instance, by the grid operator communicating acontrol command to supply energy to the grid, e.g., locally, bycontrolling and instructing the control unit(s) of one or more of thedistributed storage units or other smart asset, such as, in the localproximity of increased demand, e.g., to discharge all or a portion ofthe energy stored in one or more of the energy storage cells of thestorage units, so as to quickly, and smoothly deal with the enhanceddemand by supplying needed energy to the grid, such as by bringing apower generation source online or by pulling that energy from thedistributed storage units. And, alternatively, during times of overproduction and/or declining use, the grid operator may stabilize thegrid by pushing excess energy off of the grid and into the energystorage cells of the network of distributed energy storage units.

Hence, the deployment of the smart assets, such as the energy storageunits disclosed herein, throughout the local, county, regional, state,national, and/or international grid can be used so as to make the griditself smart and thereby better obviate the problems of fluctuatingusage, especially at times of high intermittent usage and/or at times ofpeak demand. Further, because the energy to be supplied to or removedfrom the grid can be controlled remotely so as to be distributedlocally, e.g., at or near the site of fluctuating usage and/or peakdemand, the supply of energy to the grid and/or the withdrawal of energyfrom the grid can be performed in such a manner and/or at such a rate soas to minimize the use of the transmission and/or distribution linesthereby minimizing the strain, wear and tear, and overall adverseeffects typically caused by such transmission resulting in the prolongedlife of grid components including transmission and distribution lines,transformers, power generators, and the like.

Furthermore, as the stored energy to be released is converted locally tothe required voltage and/or current flow characteristics, the number ofstep ups and/or step downs can be kept to a minimum thereby reducing theenergy waste caused by such conversions and/or further reducing thestrain on the local transformers. Further still, as individual cells ofindividual energy storage units and/or individual units themselves maybe controlled in series or parallel, a more exact amount of energy canbe supplied to or removed from the grid, such as in a more curvilinearpattern than could be supplied to the grid by firing up a peaker plantthat can only provide energy to the grid in a step-function manner.Hence, in this way, the electricity service provider can more closelymatch the supply curve to the demand curve thereby better preventingwaste caused by the over production, or under usage, of energy to besupplied to the grid.

Moreover, possible brown and/or blackout conditions caused by supplyingtoo much energy to the grid at any given time, which may result frombeing required to purchase energy in bulk quantities, e.g., from peakerplants, may be avoided. Additionally, the instability caused duringtimes of non-peak demand, or over power generation, can be avoided bythe grid operator removing energy from the grid, e.g., locally, bycontrolling and instructing the control unit(s) of one or more of thedistributed storage units, e.g., in the local proximity of decreaseddemand or over production, to charge all or a portion of the energystorage cells of the one or more storage units, so as to quickly, andsmoothly deal with the instabilities caused by decreased demand or overproduction, e.g., by storing excess energy in the distributed storageunits.

Accordingly, the distributed energy storage units disclosed herein alongwith their control mechanisms and their methods of use can be deployedso as to form one or a system of networked smart storage units that canbe positioned throughout an electric grid, such as in circuit, so as tomodulate energy transmission and stabilize the grid, thereby enhancinggrid performance, such as by removing energy from the grid and storingit, e.g., during times of off peak usage, and supplying energy to thegrid, e.g., during times of peak demand. As these functions can beperformed rapidly and locally, the problems typically caused due to thearchaic infrastructure of the legacy grid and by power transmissiongenerally, e.g., overloading of transmission and/or distribution wires,transformers, and the like, may be largely avoided if not obviatedaltogether.

As such, the distributed energy storage units disclosed herein may bedeployed in a manner so as to enhance the performance efficiencies oftransmission of electricity across the electric network. Therefore, invarious instances, a control mechanism, as herein disclosed, may becoupled with any suitable grid component, e.g., grid asset, so as toregulate, monitor, and/or control their operation in a manner so as tomake the asset smart. For instance, in various embodiments, hereinprovided are smart grid assets, such as smart generators, distributionmechanisms, transmission and distribution lines, transformers, andenergy storage units that may be configured into networks and systems ina manner so as to make the whole network and/or system of networkssmart. In various particular instances, these networks and systems arefounded on the distribution, e.g., the far and/or wide distribution, ofcontrollable smart energy assets, e.g., smart energy storage units,throughout the system and/or network so as to allow for the controlledstorage and supply of energy from and to the grid.

In certain instances, the smart grid assets, e.g., energy storage unitsand/or cells thereof, and the networks and systems founded thereon, mayinclude a control mechanism, for controlling the asset(s), acommunications module, for communicating between assets, and/or amonitor or sensor for monitoring the functioning of each and/or thecollective of assets. For instance, in certain instances, one or moresmart grid assets can be formed in to a network and/or a system ofnetworks, which grid assets may or may not be in circuit, and if incircuit may be configured to be in parallel and/or series. The smartgrid assets may include a control mechanism, such as a control mechanismthat may be operably coupled to a communications module, so as to enablethe direct and/or remote controlling of the asset. For example, invarious embodiments, the smart grid asset, e.g., energy storage unitsand/or the storage cells therein, may include an interactivecommunications module, which communications module is configured forreceiving a control instruction, such as from a remote control device orattached user interface, e.g., graphical user interface, and relayingthe same to the control mechanism of the smart asset such as forcontrolling the operation of that asset with respect to how, when,and/or where that asset will be engaged, e.g., how and when the energystorage unit will be charged and/or discharged.

In certain particular instances, the control unit may include acommunications module that is configured for receiving and acting on theinstructions received by one or more users, such as a user locatedremotely from the asset, and communicating the same to the control unit.More particularly, the control unit may be operatively coupled through asuitably configured communications module to a direct and/or a remotecontroller of the asset such as via a communications module that may bein a wired or wireless configuration. For example, the control unit maybe configured for receiving instructions from a communications modulewhereby the communications module may be operably connected to a usercontrol interface, e.g., a graphical user interface or control code,and/or to a remote controller of the asset, such as through a cellularand/or internet interface. Any suitable communications module may beused, such as in a wired or wireless configuration. For instance, in ahardwired configuration, the communications can take place via a USB,Ethernet, CAT6, RJ45 connection, or the like; and/or in a wirelessnetwork configuration, the communications can take place via a cellularnetwork connection, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Low Energy Bluetooth, or the like.

Additionally, any graphical user interface may be employed for ease ofselecting, inputting, and communicating control parameters to the deviceand/or system, such as that formatted for display on a mobile computingdevice, a desktop computer, and/or other form of display and/or devicehaving a monitor. For instance, a smart asset of the disclosure mayinclude a control mechanism that is in operable connection with adisplay device, such as a touch screen display, whereby the touchdisplay may be configured to display a selection of configurable commandinstructions that can be displayed to a user such that the user canselect the desired operational parameters, such as by touching thedisplayed representation(s), and thereby configuring the operation ofthe unit and/or system. Any suitable display may be included, such as anon-touch or touch operated flat panel display, e.g., a resistive orcapacitive or other form of touch display, such as a low, medium, orhigh definition, LCD (Liquid Chromatography Display), LED (LightEmitting Diode), OLED (Organic LED), AMOLED (Active Matrix OLED), Retinadisplay, tactile display, an alkali-aluminosilicate glass shielddisplay, and the like. In various instances, the display may be thedisplay of a mobile, smart computing device, such as a mobile or tabletstyle computer, which may be connected directly to the smart asset,e.g., in a wired configuration such as via a USB or lightning connectionor hardwired therewith, and/or may be connected wirelessly to the smartasset via complimentary wireless communications modules.

Additionally, in certain embodiments, one or more of the smart assetsherein disclosed may include one or more monitors and/or sensors thatmay be configured for sensing, monitoring, and/or determining acondition of a network component or the network itself, and when aparticular condition occurs the sensor and/or monitor may be configuredfor communicating the sensed condition(s), such as via an operationallycoupled communications module. The sensed condition(s) may becommunicated to the control unit of the smart asset and/or to a centralcontrol facility or to another third party, whereby once communicated,the control unit or central control facility, etc. may take one or moreactions in response thereto, such as changing an operations parametere.g., of the asset, network, and/or system, for instance, with respectto whether to bring the asset online or take it offline, e.g., charge ordischarge the asset, which assets to activate, and/or where, and/or forhow long, etc., so as to better control the network and/or system.

The sensor may sense, and the monitor may monitor a condition of thegrid, or a component thereof, such as a condition pertaining to thestate of needing more or less energy, and the sensor and/or monitor maycommunicate that data to the control unit of the smart asset, e.g.,energy storage unit, or a central control facility, etc., which controlunit may then instruct one or more of the smart assets, e.g., energystorage unit(s), to change its operational parameters, e.g., to chargeor discharge thereby withdrawing energy from or supplying energy to thegrid. For example, in various instances, the control unit may instructthe communications module to send a communication, e.g., with respect tothe sensed condition, from the control unit of the smart asset to aremote location, such as to a remote user, e.g., a grid operator,service provider, consumer, and/or 3rd party regulator or monitor of thesystem condition, so as to notify the user of the sensed condition,which notification may be presented to the user via a graphical userinterface that is displayed upon an associated display, and whereappropriate may present the user with one or more options as to how toconfigure or reconfigure the system, network, and/or its components torespond to the identified condition.

In such an instance, the user may then perform one or more operations,e.g., select an option so as to reconfigure the smart asset, network, orsystem which operations may be communicated back to the control unit,e.g., via a suitably connected communications module, upon receipt ofwhich the control unit of the smart asset may then direct the operatingconditions of the asset, network, and/or system, and/or the componentsthereof, such as by directing the energy storage unit(s) to charge ordischarge their energy storage cells. Hence, in such instances, a userof the system may be sent a notification, e.g., an alert, and given theability to make one or more active changes to the distributed smartasset and/or a grid component associated and/or serviced thereby.

Accordingly, along with a smart control unit, including a controlmechanism, and a communications module, the smart grid asset, e.g., oneor more smart energy storage units, and/or their component parts, mayadditionally include one or more configurable smart monitoring devices,so as to enable one or more users, e.g., a grid operator, serviceprovider, consumer, and/or 3rd party regulator or monitor of the systemto monitor the grid system, network, and/or their component parts. Forinstance, a monitor may sense a condition of the grid and/or a conditionof one or a number of smart energy assets, e.g., storage units, such aswith respect to the need to supply or withdraw energy to or from adetermined location of the grid and/or the location and charge ordischarge capacity of the determined smart energy storage unitsservicing that determined location of the grid. In such an instance, themonitor in conjunction with the communications module may communicatethe sensed and/or processed data to the control unit of the storageunits and/or directly to a user, in response to which an operationalparameter of the network and/or system may be changed, such as by theuser or automatically without intervention of the user.

A number of grid conditions may be monitored, such as those with respectto grid efficiency, grid load, and/or grid traffic, and the like, and/orthe monitor may monitor a number of conditions pertaining to the one ormore of the networked smart assets, e.g., energy storage units,including location, charge capacity, discharge ability, rate of chargeor discharge, and the like, so as to better allow the user, e.g., gridcontroller or smart unit user, to modulate the unit(s), network, and/orsystem operations, such as to allow the user to schedule overall and/orpermanent load shifting, such as while supporting advanced DemandResponse capabilities.

For instance, as described above, one or more, e.g., all, of theindividual storage units may include a communications module, such as acellular or WIFI gateway, along with one or more sensors, which sensorsmay be configured for detecting one or more conditions of the individualand/or collective of storage units and/or grid such as for determiningwhen and which storage units should be charged and/or discharged and towhat extent and/or which ones should remain idle. More particularly, thecontrol unit(s) of one or more of the smart asset(s), e.g., of a networkor system of networks including the smart asset(s), can be configured toinclude associated hardware and/or imbedded software for running thesystem, network, or associated smart asset(s), such as for sensing,monitoring, communicating, and/or controlling the functions of the same.

For example, the system, network, and/or smart system hardware and/orsoftware may be configured to control the communications module and/orsmart asset itself in a manner such that the control unit maycommunicate with one or more other devices throughout the system, whichcommunications module may include one or more of an applicationprogramming interface (API), a cloud platform, and/or a wired orwireless communication protocol, such as PLC, Ethernet, RJ45, RS232, andUSB; a cellular communications protocol; and/or a Wifi, Bluetooth, LowEnergy Bluetooth, or other wireless communications protocol, such asZigbee (SE and HA), Dash7, and the like, so as to effectuate suchcommunications. In a manner such as this, through the control system ofthe network and control unit of the individual smart asset(s) thereof,various of the grid assets can be configured for communicating with oneanother remotely, e.g., in a wired or wireless configuration, such aswhere the grid network includes a centralized control system orcontroller, e.g., at a centralized processing center, which controlsystem may be in communication with a distributed network of smartassets, such as energy storage units, so as to allow the distributednetwork, e.g., of energy storage units, to communicate with the systemcontrol, such as with regard to one or more conditions of the gridand/or its individual units, and to allow the system controller tocommunicate, e.g., commands, to the individual or collective of smartgrid assets, e.g., energy storage units, such as in response tocommunications received thereby.

Further, as the control system is capable of being in communicationswith a plurality, e.g., all, of the smart grid assets, and furthercapable of receiving sensed and/or communicated data therefrom, whichdata may then be collated, processed, and converted into one or morecommand codes, instructions, and/or warnings, the command system iscapable of controlling each of the associated grid assets eithercollectively or individually so as to respond to the sensed andprocessed condition data. For instance, the entire electric grid or asub-portion thereof may be controlled, such as from a large nationwideor international scale to a small, minute, e.g., individual asset scale,by the centralized control system running a management system such as ademand response management system. Hence, in a manner such as this, eachof the one or more, e.g., the entire collective, of smart assets, e.g.,energy storage units, and the entire grid itself may communicate withone another and/or be controlled, e.g., remotely, such as via one ormore of the demand response management system(s) and/or a partycontrolling the same.

For example, a user, e.g., a power generator, grid operator, energyservice provider, consumer, and/or 3^(rd) party regulator or monitor ofthe overall system condition can access one or more, e.g., the entirety,of the system assets, for example, the controller of the centralizedprocessing center and/or one or more of the smart assets, e.g., theenergy storage unit, remotely, such as via a web based interface, andthrough the demand response management system configure the individualasset(s) and/or entire system run parameters. More particularly, invarious such instances, the centralized control system can be accessedvia the web accessible demand response management system, such as by theremote utility service provider, who can thereby receive data as to thecondition or status of one or more of the grid assets, e.g., a remoteenergy storage cell or unit, a collection of energy storage cells orunits, and/or a grid or a collection of girds, can collate and processthe condition and/or status data, and in response thereto instruct oneor more of the individual control units of the smart asset, e.g., energystorage cells or units, networked therewith to change its operationalparameters, e.g., charge and/or to discharge, so as to remove energy,e.g., excess energy, away from the grid, and/or supply energy, e.g.,stored energy, to the gird. In various instances, the system can beconfigured to run autonomously, e.g., via the demand response systemhardware and/or software, such as within a predetermined and/orpreselected series of run parameters in such a manner that the systemself adjusts based on the received conditions of the individual and/orcollective of networked assets.

Additionally, to better effectuate the control exerted by the controlsystem, the one or more individual control units of the individual smartgrid asset, such as an energy storage unit, may include a geo-locationdevice, or other positioning and/or locating mechanism, e.g., a GPS,cellular triangulation system, or the like, whereby the centralizedcontrol system can determine the location of each smart grid asset,e.g., energy storage unit or storage cell positioned therein, and canthereby determine how that grid asset should function, such as where andwhen each particular energy storage cell and/or each particular storageunit should be charged and/or discharged. Hence, the centralizedmanagement control system provided herein can be configured so as toenable a remote controller, e.g., a management operating system and/or aremote operator of such a system, such as a utility provider or user ofan asset of the system, to access and control one or more of thedistributed storage units networked therewith, such as through a webbased interface, and thereby instruct the one or more control units tocharge and store energy and/or to discharge the stored energy.

More particularly, the distributed energy storage units, systems, andmethods of employing the same, as herein described, can be controlledautonomously and/or by one or more remote users, for one or more of amultiplicity of purposes, such as for charging the energy storage units,e.g., during low utility pricing times, and discharging the units, e.g.,during peak energy demand spikes, such as in a manner sufficient toshift peak demand to off-peak times, e.g., without inconveniencing theconsumer; transitioning from one power generation source to anotherpower generation source; and proximity detection, such as for noncritical power shutdown and startup as well as for security.

Accordingly, in various instances, one or more of the electric gridcomponents, such as a power generator, a distribution mechanism, atransformer, an energy storage unit, and/or the transmission and/ordistribution lines, e.g., smart grid assets, may include a controlmechanism, as described herein, wherein the control mechanism may beconfigured to control the operation of one or more of the grid assetssuch as with respect to its function in producing, transferring,storing, and/or supplying electricity throughout the electric grid,which control mechanism may be configured so as to allow remotecommunications with a user, e.g., via a communications portal, throughwhich communications portal the remote user may then configure and/orcontrol the system and/or component operational configurations.

For example, in one particular example, the operation of one or moresmart grid assets, e.g., a power generator(s) may be controlled, such asby a suitable control mechanism, and further may be networked into asystem, e.g., so as to be controlled remotely, such as via inclusion ofa wired or wireless communications module, which may include a web basedinterface therewith, whereby the operation of the power generator may becontrolled, e.g., remotely, such as by interfacing with the web basedinterface in a manner sufficient to control the control mechanism of thegenerator and thereby control the power generator. Hence, in such amanner, the functioning of the power generator, e.g., with respect torate, frequency, amount, voltage, current, etc. may be regulated and/oractively changed so as to better modulate the grid and consumer sidepower supply, such as in an effort to more finely match power supplywith consumer use. More specifically, such changes can be implemented byinstructing the control mechanism of the power generator to direct thepower generator to produce, speed up, slow down, or cease the productionof power being supplied to the grid.

For instance, where the power generator is a source of steam basedand/or renewable power generation, the control mechanism may beconfigured to automatically control the amount of power, e.g., excesspower, being supplied to the grid regardless of which side of the gridthe power is being generated, e.g., the service and/or consumer side ofthe grid. Further, where the smart source of power generation iselectronically connected to a smart source of energy distribution and/orstorage, the control mechanism may be employed so as to control the oneor more power generators, e.g., to increase or decrease powergeneration, to direct the transmission, flow, and/or distribution ofpower, and/or when useful to push excess energy into one or more of theenergy storage units, e.g., distributed storage units described herein,or withdraw stored power from the storage units so as to supply energyback to the grid. Accordingly, in various instances, one or more of thedistribution servers, transformers, and/or transmission and/ordistribution lines of the electric grid may include one or more controlmechanisms and may likewise be controlled so as to regulate thefunctioning of the grid and its components, such as with respect to theproduction, transmission, and/or storage and/or supplying of electricityto the grid.

In another example, the operation of one or more energy storage unitsmay be controlled, such as by a suitable control mechanism, and furthermay be networked into a system, e.g., so as to be controlled remotely,such as via inclusion of a wired or wireless communications module,which may include a web based interface therewith, whereby the operationof the energy storage unit may be controlled, e.g., remotely, such as byinterfacing with the web based or cellular interface in a mannersufficient to control the control mechanism of the storage unit and/or astorage cell thereof, and may thereby control the energy storage unit,such as with respect to the charging and/or discharging of the storagecells therein. Hence, in such a manner, the functioning, e.g., chargingand/or discharging, of the energy storage unit, e.g., with respect towhen, how, rate, amount, frequency, etc., may be regulated and/oractively changed so as to better modulate the grid and consumer sidepower supply, such as in an effort to more finely match power supplywith consumer use.

Accordingly, as indicated, in various instances, one or more of thecontrol mechanisms of one or more of the smart assets of the grid may becontrolled in any suitable manner, such as via a corresponding web basedand/or cellular user interface and/or directly, e.g., via a graphicaluser interface included on a display, such as a touchscreen display ofthe smart asset. Furthermore, a user, e.g., a grid operator, energyservice provider, consumer, third party, or the like can be alerted bythe control system as to when a specific event occurs and/or be givenvarious control options, e.g., when such an event occurs, in response towhich the user can configure the operation of the grid asset, e.g.,their individual energy storage units according to their preferred useprofile.

For instance, where the smart grid asset is an energy storage unithaving a control mechanism as disclosed herein, such as a personalenergy storage unit capable of being controlled directly or remotely,e.g., via one or more user control functions, the individual user canengage the user control functions, e.g., via a graphical user interface,so as to control the storage unit, e.g., to schedule how and when theywant the individual unit and/or local grid system collectively toperform certain functions such as charge time, discharge time, rate, andtimes of sitting idle, etc. Such interactions can bring about energybudgeting awareness by helping the individual or collective of consumersdevelop usage strategies that can reduce their overall maintenance andoperations costs, thereby reducing the overall cost for energy usage.Additionally, different scenarios to help divert power to critical loadsduring specified events may be set up. In such instances, such changescan range from scheduling to shutting down or islanding the DistributedEnergy Resource (DER).

As described above, the legacy electric grid is typically comprised ofpower generation sources, electricity distribution centers, and thetransmission lines, transformers, and meters that are used to transferenergy from the site of its generation to the facility of the consumerwhere that energy will be used. As commonly used the term grid refers tothe local macro grid that services a large, multi-state region of users.When referencing a localized community of users and/or facilities thatare serviced by a particular, common portion of the macro grid, suchlocalized grid network may be referred to herein as a micro grid. Hence,the communities serviced by the grid, e.g., the macro grid, can be smallor large, such as being as large as needed to serve a few states, buttypically have not been capable of being large enough to serve an entirenation, e.g., so as to form a national mega grid, and certainly not aslarge as being able to form an international super grid. In order forsuch large-scale service areas to be provided for, such as by a single(or collective of) service providers, the collection of legacy macrogrids (on a national or international basis) would have to be operatedsynchronously. In order for this to happen the various grid networksinvolved, as well as their component parts and systems, would have to bemade smart.

As indicated above, however, making the grid smart, as currentlyproposed, means dismantling and replacing the current, legacyinfrastructure with new intelligent devices as well as more heavy dutytransmission lines. The cost of implementing such a proposal isastronomical both monetarily and in human resources, not to mention thewide scale chaos and discomfort it would cause to the daily lives of theelectricity consumers involved. What is needed is a system of controlmechanisms and/or structures that can easily be inserted into and/orthroughout the existing legacy grid, and/or its component parts, and canbe used to perform one or more of the tasks of controlling energyproduction, transmission, service, distribution, and/or use, in such amanner that is energy efficient, minimizes waste, does not destabilizethe grid, and ideally does not require the consumer to drasticallychange their use habits.

Further, as indicated above, the legacy grid typically refers to largerscale energy transmission, such as on a regional, multi-state, macrolevel. However, as presented herein, as the grid is made intelligent theareas to be serviced can be much larger so as to from a nationwide megagrid and/or international super grid, such as where a single gridnetwork is capable of servicing all of the networked regions, states,and/or provinces, on a nationwide and/or international wide scale.Likewise, just as the devices, systems, and methods disclosed herein arecapable of making the various grid components synchronous so as to formgrid networks larger than the current legacy macro grid, so too can theybe employed, as described herein, to form smart grid networks that aresmaller than the macro grid, and capable of servicing areas smaller thana local city or plurality of communities, such as to form smart microgrids, e.g., servicing a single community or group of facilities at agiven location, or to form smart nano grids, e.g., servicing a singlefacility, or a pico grid, e.g., servicing a particular portion of afacility, or even a fento grid, e.g., servicing a single or a group ofappliances within a room of a facility.

The evolution of such sub-grids is important for many reasons, such aswith the growth of renewable resource energy production, and/or theincreasing adoption of consumer side power generators, it is becomingmore and more feasible to remove a given community, facility or group offacilities from the macro grid, so as to form an isolatable micro, nano,pico, or even a fento grid, wherein the energy to be transferredthroughout the network may be supplied entirely internally to the givennetwork. More particularly, with the increasingly wide scale adoption ofconsumer side renewable resource energy production, energy consumers areincreasingly attempting to be able to separate themselves from the localmacro grid.

To date this has not been readily possible because of the communicationsproblems existent between the source of renewable resource powergeneration and the legacy grid. More specifically, the legacy grid wasnot constructed with the idea of two-way power transfer in mind. Norhave the renewable resource power generators been configured so as to beable to communicate effectively with the legacy grid. Consequently, asthe individual or collective consumers produce energy through their ownpower generation source(s), whatever energy is not consumed by theconsumer(s), so as to meet their daily demands, will need to bedischarged. Typically, the discharging of such energy means shoving theexcess energy back on to the grid. The grid, however, was not set up tostore such energy, and consequently the grid operator has no means ofdetermining, monitoring, and/or controlling how much energy will bereceived onto the grid and/or directing that energy flow, and thus, theproblem of intermittent, peak time energy production is created, wherebyconsumer side energy is being randomly shoved back on to the gridwithout regard for how that energy is to be effectively utilized by thegrid operator. And since the legacy grid infrastructure was not createdto handle energy transference in this manner, a new source ofinstability is now constantly threatening to overwhelm the grid andcause a wide scale shutdown.

What is needed in this regard, therefore, are devices, systems, andmethods of using the same in a manner that can be deployed throughout agrid system, e.g., a legacy macro grid, that will be functional despitethe large or small size of the grid, e.g., regardless of the grid beingas large as an international super grid, or being as small as a fentogrid within an individual appliance; and will further be capable ofbeing networked together so as to make the grid smart so as to becontrollable, with respect to the supplying and withdrawing of energy toand from the grid, either through a direct interface therewith orremotely, such as through a cloud based or cellular network connection.Accordingly, presented herein, are control mechanisms, includingassociated hardware and/or software, that can be associated with a gridasset and deployed individually and/or collectively in a systemthroughout a grid network so as to modulate and control that grid assetin a manner sufficient to thereby control the functioning of theserviced grid area, such as with respect to the amount, rate, frequency,current, voltage, direction, etc. of energy being supplied to orwithdrawn from the grid. The controllable grid asset may be any suitablyconfigured grid asset, such as a power generator, a distributionmechanism, a transformer, a smart meter, and/or the transmission and/ordistribution lines there between, but in some instances, may be one ormore, e.g., a plurality, of distributed energy storage cells and theunits that contain them.

For instance, in certain embodiments, a network of energy storagesystems may be provided, such as throughout a grid area to be set upand/or serviced, wherein each of the energy storage units, and/or theenergy storage cells thereof, may include one or more of: a controlmechanism, a communications module, a sensor, a monitor, a gps, and/or adisplay, such as where the control mechanism is capable of controllingthe characteristics of the charging and/or discharging of the energystorage cell(s) of the storage unit, such as with respect to time andduration of charge or discharge, rate of charge or discharge, conversionof the current to be charged, e.g., from AC to DC, conversion of thecurrent to be discharged, e.g., from DC to AC, voltage, and the like. Incertain instances, the communications module may be configured forcommunicating with one or more of the other networked energy storageunits and/or cells thereof, as well as with one or more smart assetoperators, e.g., a user; the sensor and/or monitor may be configured forsensing and monitoring a condition of the storage unit and/or gridserviced, such as with respect to the amount of energy supplied theretoor contained therein; the GPS unit may be configured for determining thelocation of the energy storage unit and/or cells thereof, e.g., withrespect to the grid services; and the display may be capable ofdisplaying and/or receiving information, e.g., directly such as througha displayed user interface, or remotely through the communicationsmodule, such as information related to one or more sensed conditionsand/or an operational command, such as in response thereto.

Accordingly, in various instances, as indicated above, the controlmechanisms of each of these individual smart energy storage units may beconfigured so as to be in communication with one another and/or with oneor more centralized control system(s) so as to be controlledindividually and/or together in concert, such as in a synchronous orsequential manner so as to make the grid they are coupled to smart. Forinstance, each of the individual smart energy units within a system maybe configured to form a network of smart energy storage units, such aswhere the network may form a fento, pico, nano, micro, macro, mega,and/or a super grid, for example, where these plurality of grids may belayered one on top of the other such as where one or more fento gridscan be coupled electrically and/or communicably, so as to form one ormore pico grids, and/or one or more pico grids can be coupled, e.g.,electrically and/or communicably, so as to form one or more nano grids,and/or one or more nano grids can be coupled in the same manner so as toform one or more micro grids, which in turn can be coupled in likemanner so as to form one or more macro grids, which may likewise becoupled to form one or more mega grids, which in turn can be coupled soas to form one or more super grids, such as in a nationwide orinternational super grid. In a layered manner such as this, the electricgrid may be made smart, incrementally, by building one controllable gridon top of the other, such as by interconnecting increasing numbers ofindividualized storage units together over ever increasing serviceareas, and thereby controlling them so as to function in concert, suchas via a cloud based interface, in a synchronous or sequential mannerand thereby creating a very stable environment where energy can besupplied to the end user consistently, and locally without fear ofoverloading the network.

For instance, each smart energy storage unit and/or the cells thereofcan be configured for storing a predetermined quantum of energy, and maybe further configured for one or both of being charged, such as bydrawing energy from the grid and storing it within its respective energystorage cells, and/or being discharged, such as by supplying energy backto the grid or to the end user's site of usage, e.g., home or business,such as where such charging and/or discharging can be controlled eitheronsite or remotely such as by the electricity provider and/or end userand/or other third party. More particularly, each smart energy storageunit may include a control mechanism and therefore be individuallyconfigured to receive a charge instruction, such as from a remote party,e.g., a power generator, supplier, user, or other 3^(rd) party, and willbe able to store a determined quantum of energy in response thereto,such as at a time when energy supply is cheap, e.g., during a time ofexcess power generation or a non-peak generation time; and may furtherbe configured for releasing that energy either back on to the grid or tothe site of usage, such as in response to another control signal such asduring a threatened brown out or black out condition.

Additionally, one or a plurality of the smart storage units may becontrolled collectively, such as by a grid operator or energy serviceprovider, to either store or supply higher quantums of energy from or tothe grid, such as to smooth out energy consumption fluctuations andthereby stabilize the grid. More specifically, energy may be stored onthe collective of networked energy storage units that have been widelydistributed locally, e.g., on the service and/or consumer side of thegrid, such as at times of low consumption, e.g., late at night or earlymorning, or times of excess production, thereby ameliorating the wastethat would typically occur by the service provider having to dump theexcess electricity due to an unexpected drop in usage or overproduction.

Further such energy may be supplied back to the grid from the networkedsmart energy units, such as at times of peak usage, and/or at timeswhere grid stability is threatened, e.g., due to under production orinefficient (or non-existent) transmission, so as to provide neededenergy to the local grid user and thereby stabilize the grid. Moreparticularly, each individual smart energy unit and each network ofunits has the ability to store precise levels of amounts of energy, suchas in individual storage cells of the energy storage units of the one ormore networks and/or systems of units, which can be individually and/orcollectively controlled so as to release precise amounts of energy backto the grid or to the site of usage, such as at times of peak demand orwhen grid interruptions occur, such as to run a local environment for agiven amount of time. In a manner such as this, the collective of smartenergy storage units, or other smart assets, may be networked togetherand controlled so as to withdraw and store excess energy from the grid,and/or to supply energy to the grid at times of need so as to smooth outthe grid and minimize the adverse effects of intermittent andfluctuating usage.

Additionally, because each smart energy storage unit may be individuallycontrolled, so as to store and release designated quantums of energy,e.g., based on the size and number of energy storage cells eachindividual smart unit includes, a more precise amount of energy may besupplied to the grid, so as to more finely attune the power beingsupplied to the grid with the power being demanded by the consumer andthereby being withdrawn from the grid. For instance, the grid operatoror other party may determine the amount of energy needing to be suppliedto the grid, such as by analyzing the current or predicted demand curve,and based on that determination may activate a more exact portion of amore exact number of energy storage cells of a more exact number ofstorage units so as to more precisely supply energy to the grid in amanner that more closely aligns the supply curve to the predetermineddemand curve. Consequently, in a manner such as this, the demand andsupply curves can be more closely aligned, and rather than having topurchase a large quantity of energy, supplied in a step-function mannerby bringing a peaker plant on line, a more precise amount of energy canbe supplied to the grid, in a curvilinear fashion, by instructing anumber of fuel cells, containing a small predetermined quantum ofenergy, in a number of storage units to release that more precise amountof energy to the grid at close to the precise time it is need. And asthe energy to be used can be supplied more locally to the site of itsconsumption, the wear and tear on the transformation and distributionlines, as well as the transformers serving them may be minimized.

Hence, in a manner such as this, the outdated peaker plants, that arelargely only capable of providing energy to the grid in predefinedquantums of energy in a step function manner, and have to constantly besitting idle waiting for the times when they will need to be fired upand brought on line, can be done away with, thereby obviating the highcost of their production, the land required for their installation, theregulatory hassle involved in their building, running, and maintenance,as well as the pollution they produce, thus saving the utility companieshundreds of million's of dollars in wasted money and resources. Moreparticularly, as each storage unit includes a number of energy storagecells of a given capacity that are positioned over a widespread networkof users, small quantums of stored energy can be supplied to the gridfrom a multiplicity of units in such a manner as to closely align thesupply curve to the demand curve, thus, ameliorating the tension causedby the energy supplier when deciding whether or not to bring one or moreadditional peaker plant on line, thereby necessitating the purchase of alarge quantity of energy in bulk that may not in the end be needed andmay therefore result in being wasted. For instance, spinning reservesites, e.g., peaker plants, remain constantly on in an idle mode untilthe need arises wherein the peaker plant can be ramped up fast andlinearly to ensure consistent, even power flow through the grid. Hence,for the majority of the time these plants remain idle, e.g., for most ofthe year, waiting to be fired up so as to accommodate the few peak timeevents. Because they are always “on” they can be ramped up fast so as torespond rapidly to increased demand needs.

There are several problems, however, with the peaker plant always beingon, but rarely being used. For instance, when they are sitting idle,they are simply wasting energy, while at the same time releasing aconstant stream of C02 and other polluting emissions into theenvironment, as well as creating a high cost for maintenance, andgenerating extra stress on the grid and its machinery. For example,existent peaker plants need to constantly be refurbished so as tocapture the latest innovations. Additionally, because the peaker plantcan still only supply energy to the grid at single step-function level,it is simply not configured to match the energy that it is pushing on tothe grid in a manner that more precisely matches the grids electricityneeds, and hence even when supplying energy to the gird peaker plantscreate huge flux.

A further problem with peaker plants is that during production and afterthey remain highly governmentally regulated. For instance, the amount ofinvestment required to build past generators have required a 50 plusyear payback period in order for the Distributed Services Organizationto receive a return on its investment. And yet government regulationsmandate the DSO to incur such a cost to build the peaker plant so as toensure the utility provider can meet the increasing demand needs of itscustomers, such as at peak times. Yet, due to changing carbonregulations many of these plants are now regulated to be decommissioned,leaving the DSOs without a way to recover their investments.Consequently, peaker plants require a huge initial investment to bebrought online, and yet are constantly being rendered obsolete prior toany value being returned. Hence, the pushing of power to the grid viacentralized peaker plants is not ideal and does little to reducetransformer loads that leads to grid failures and increased maintenance.

However, as the devices, systems, and the methods of their use, asherein described, e.g., individual storage units, are capable of beingnetworked together and/or individually or collectively controlled andoperated, such as by the utility provider, and because each individualunit can be networked together so as to be controlled in concertremotely, at any given time a small or large quantity of energy isavailable to be supplied to the grid at the command of the utilitythereby obviating the need to have and/or fire up a peaker plant in thefirst place. Accordingly, the solutions provided herein may beconfigured so as to do away with all the waste caused by the utilityhaving to buy power in bulk amounts, e.g., from spinning reserves, andthen having to discharge unused portions thereof. Further, thesesolutions will also do away with all the pollution caused by theseplants as they remain in a steady “on” state of preparedness waiting tobe brought on line. More importantly, as the need for building peakerplants is obviated, the utility can save the hundreds of millions ofdollars required to build such plants, and assuage the potential loss ofthat investment due to the ever-changing regulatory climate.

Additionally, as the individual energy storage cells that make up thestorage units can be configured so as to be modular, each individualstorage unit can be shaped and sized to accommodate the needs and/ordesires of the individual user, and thus can be made to be stored in aplace and in a manner at the site of usage so as to not be intrusive tothe user. As these energy storage units may be stored at the site ofusage, there is less waste do to having to transport energy over longdistances, such as at peak times, thereby reducing the transferenceinefficiencies and waste caused by stepping up and down. Further, havinga local, distributive storage solution allows the individual user tomake use of the stored energy such as at those times when the gridactually does go down.

Accordingly, as the collection of networked smart energy storage unitscan be controlled by the grid operator or other electricity serviceprovider to store and additionally supply energy to the grid, andfurther such grid operator can control the precise amount of energy tobe stored and/or supplied as well as where and when those functionsshall be performed, the macro grid can be as a whole made smart, such aswithout the need for a substantial investment of refurbishing the legacyinfrastructure. Hence, by distributively storing electricity and/ordelivering it locally, or even to more remote locations and/or markets,stable power may be supplied in a smart manner to the grid, e.g., duringtimes of destabilization or threatened disruption, so as to smooth outthe effects of fluctuating usage and minimize times of disruption and/orreduce or obviating the usage of peaker plants for energy production.

Further, wide spread installation of the disclosed smart energy storageunits along with the control mechanisms included for the purpose ofcontrolling their use can make the local macro grid smart, which in turnallows for the control and functioning of various macro gridscollectively to be smart, thereby further allowing their functioning tobe synchronous resulting in the configuring of a plurality of smartmacro grids into a smart mega grid. Likewise, as the supply of thesesmart storage units reaches a level so as to be widely distributed city,county, state, nationwide, and/or even internationally each variousmacro and/or mega grid may be controlled and operated synchronouslythereby forming a smart super grid. Hence, the control mechanisms andsmart energy storage units disclosed herein and the systems that theyprovide for allow for the outward expansion of smart macro grids intosmart mega and/or super grids or larger. Likewise, the controlmechanisms and smart energy storage units disclosed herein and thesystems that they provide for allow for the reduction of smart macrogrids into smart micro and/or smart nano and/or smart pico as well assmart fento grids or smaller.

More particularly, the control mechanisms and smart energy storage unitsdisclosed herein and the systems that they provide for can convert theinefficient and dumb legacy micro grid into a smart micro grid, wherebythe energy being supplied to and/or withdrawn from the grid can befinely controlled and regulated, such as by regulating the power beinggenerated and/or distributed and/or transmitted and/or transformedand/or stored or released into the grid, such as at the precise level,rate, and location of need. Further, the control mechanisms and smartenergy storage units disclosed herein and the systems employing them canbe configured to be distributed throughout ever increasing regions ofuse so as to make the serviced individual macro grid regions synchronouswith respect to the energy being supplied thereto, or withdrawn therefrom, so as to allow the various independent macro grids to becontrolled and operated synchronously so as to form a single mega grid,such as where the various smart micro grids are configured to operatesynchronously so as to be capable of being combined and controlledtogether as one or more mega grid network(s). Furthermore, as thecontrol mechanisms and/or energy storage units disclosed herein arewidely distributed, such as on a nationwide basis over one or morenational mega grids, the various national mega grids may be configuredso to operate synchronously so as to be capable of being combined andcontrolled together as one or more international super grid network(s).

Additionally, in various instances, instead of making the macro grid notonly smart but larger, it may be useful to make the macro grid not onlysmart, but smaller, such as where it may be desirable to isolate acommunity or facility, or a group of communities or facilities from themacro grid. For instance, in various embodiments, it may be desirable toform a sub-grid network that is capable of both connecting to anddisconnecting from the macro grid so as to form a micro grid, a nanogrid, a pico grid, a fento grid, and the like, such as where, in certainembodiments, the sub-grid network is capable of storing energy from themacro grid, or from another power supply source, so as to later supplythat energy from its energy store to the sub-grid as needed, e.g.,without necessarily having to pull or supply additional energy from orto the macro grid. In such an instance, a micro grid may be formed suchas where the micro grid may basically be comprised of a smaller versionof the macro grid, such as where the micro grid is capable of sustainingitself and, therefore, may have a mix of one or more of a powergeneration source, e.g., a source of renewable power generation, anenergy storage apparatus, a control mechanism, e.g., having acommunications module, power inverter and/or converter, and/or a GPSand/or other sensor, and may include its own transmission lines.

Additionally, as needed, the micro grid may be operationally, e.g.,substantially completely, removable from the associated macro grid, andmay thus be self sustaining such that when reconnectably dissociatedfrom the macro grid, the micro grid is capable of supplying the internalenergy needs of its various networked components, e.g., supplying theenergy needs of the networked communities and/or facilities of acommunity, such as when the macro-grid is unavailable. In a manner suchas this, the suitably configured micro grid may be replaceably islandedfrom the macro grid, such as by being able to removably associate anddisassociate from the macro grid and/or having an internal energy supplythat does not need to be constantly drawing energy from the macro grid,such as by having an alternative non-macro grid tied power supply sourceand/or distributed energy storage source.

For instance, a smart micro grid may be configured for controllablysupplying energy to a set of communities or facilities within acommunity, and in various instances, may have one or more, e.g., aplurality, of smart energy storage units that are distributed throughoutthe community and networked together and configured to supply energy tothe micro grid and it's component parts in a manner controllable by auser, so as to determine what parts of the micro grid will be supplyingand/or what parts will be withdrawing energy to and from the grid and atwhat time and for how long, etc.

Further, where a micro grid may service a group of communities orfacilities within a community, it may at times be desirable to island anentire community or facility individually from the macro and/or microgrid itself. In such an instance, a nano grid may be formed such aswhere the nano grid may have its own control mechanism and/or powersupply, such as a source of power generation or storage, and maytherefore be capable of supplying its own energy needs, e.g., for thecommunity and/or facility, for an amount of time, such as when the macrogrid may be shut down, and the micro grid may not be capable ofsupplying enough energy to the entire community and/or collective offacilities. In such an instance, as needed, the nano grid may beoperationally, e.g., substantially completely, removable from theassociated macro and/or micro grid, and may thus be self sustaining suchthat when removably associated and dissociated from the macro and/ormicro grid, the nano grid is capable of supplying the energy needs ofits various networked components, e.g., the various facilities of thecommunity and/or larger portions of the facility, such as when themacro-grid and/or micro grids are unavailable.

In a manner such as this, the suitably configured nano grid may bereplaceably islanded from the macro and/or micro grid, such as by beingable to associate and be disassociated from the larger grid and/or byhaving an internal energy supply that does not need to be constantlydrawing energy from or supplying energy to the larger grid, such as byhaving an alternative, non-micro grid tied power supply source and/ordistributed energy storage source. For instance, a smart nano grid maybe configured for controllably supplying energy to a particularcommunity or a particular facility within a community, and in variousinstances, may have one or more, e.g., a plurality, of smart energystorage units that are distributed throughout the community or facilityand networked together and configured to supply energy to the nano gridand it's component parts, e.g., the actual facility or larger portionsthereof, in a manner controllable by a user, so as to determine whatparts of the nano grid will be supplying and/or what parts will bewithdrawing energy to and from the grid and at what time and for howlong, etc.

Furthermore, where a nano grid may service an entire community orfacility, it may at times be desirable to island one or more portions ofthe community or facility individually from the nano grid itself, suchas by dividing the nano grid into separate serviceable sections, so asto form one or more pico grids. In such an instance, as needed, the picogrid may be operationally, e.g., substantially completely, removablefrom the associated nano, micro, and/or macro grid, and may thus be selfsustaining such that when removably dissociated from the larger grid,the pico grid is capable of supplying the energy needs of its variousnetworked components, e.g., the various rooms of the facility, such aswhen the larger grids are unavailable. In a manner such as this, thesuitably configured pico grid may be replaceably islanded from the nano,micro, and/or macro grid, such as by being able to be associated andremovably disassociated from the larger grid and/or by having aninternal energy supply that does not need to be constantly drawingenergy from or supplying energy to the larger grid, such as by having analternative, non-nano grid tied power supply source or distributedenergy storage source.

For instance, a smart pico grid may be configured for controllablysupplying energy to a particular wing, e.g., a smaller portion of thefacility or a particular room within the facility, and in variousinstances, may have one or more, e.g., a plurality, of smart energystorage units that are networked together and configured to supplyenergy to the pico grid and it's component parts, e.g., the rooms of ahouse, in a manner controllable by a user, so as to determine what partsof the pico grid will be supplying and/or what parts will be withdrawingenergy to and from the grid and at what time and for how long, etc.

Further still, where a pico grid may service an entire wing or room of afacility, it may at times be desirable to island one or more portions ofthe facility or room individually from the pico grid itself, such as byproviding an energy storage unit and/or cell within the actual energydrawing appliance being serviced by the pico grid, so as to form one ormore fento grids. In such an instance, as needed, the fento grid may beoperationally, e.g., substantially completely, removable from theassociated pico, nano, micro, and/or macro grid, and may thus be selfsustaining such that when removably dissociated from the larger grid,the fento grid is capable of supplying the energy needs of its variousnetworked components, e.g., its associated appliance, or portionsthereof, such as when the larger grids are unavailable. In a manner suchas this, the suitably configured pico grid may be replaceably islandedfrom the nano, micro, and/or macro grid, such as by being able to beremovably associated and/or disassociated from the larger grid and/or byhaving an internal energy supply that does not need to be constantlydrawing energy from the larger grid, such as by having an alternative,non-nano grid tied power supply source or distributed energy storagesource.

For instance, where a smart pico grid may be configured for controllablysupplying energy to a particular wing, e.g., a set of rooms, or aparticular room within a facility, e.g., a house, in various instances,the fento grid may be configured to supply energy to a particularappliance (or portion thereof) or set of appliances within a portion ofthe pico grid, e.g., within a particular room. Accordingly, in variousinstances, a fento grid may have one or more, e.g., a plurality, ofsmart energy storage units that are networked together and configured tosupply energy to the fento grid and it's component parts, e.g., tovarious networked appliances, or portions thereof, within a room, in amanner controllable by a user, so as to determine what parts of thefento grid will be supplying and/or what parts will be withdrawingenergy to and from the grid and at what time and for how long, etc.

Accordingly, as herein described, a stackable system of smart gridnetworks may be provided whereby one or more, e.g., all, of powergeneration, transmission, distribution, and/or energy storage may becontrolled such as for grids as large as international super grids togrids as small as one or more smart fuel cells positioned in a singleappliance or portion thereof. Hence, in certain embodiments, individualappliances can be hardwired with one or more smart rechargeable energystorage units, such as to form a fento grid, where the appliance, orgroup of appliances, may be configured for one or more of withdrawingenergy from the grid, so as to store it within its energy storagecell(s); supplying energy to the grid, e.g., the pico, nano, micro,and/or macro grid, etc.; and supplying energy to the appliance, such asin instances where access to the larger grid by the appliance has beenrendered inoperative, such as during times of larger grid shutdown. Insuch instances, when an internal circuit is configured, such as to forman internal fento, pico, nano, micro grid, and/or a macro, mega, orsuper grid, all of the smart energy storage units included therein maybe used to supply energy to the particular grid network, includingappliances, to which they are coupled, or generally to the largernetwork so as to be used by the collection of smart assets, includingappliances, attached to the general network.

Accordingly, in a manner such as this, a community or a series ofcommunities, a facility or a collection of facilities, a single room ora number of rooms, or one or more power using appliance(s) within afacility or room may be islanded and thereby separated from a connectionwith the larger, external, e.g., macro grid, and still be able to supplyenergy to its associated electronics. Hence, where a system is islanded,one or more, e.g., all, energy storage, including stand alone plug insmart energy storage units, as well as those contained within individualsmart energy appliances can be controlled so as to contribute tosupplying the overall facility electrical needs. This will allow a gridoperator, e.g., a utility provider, user, or third party controller, toaggregate any and all sources of distributed storage, e.g., eitherdirect plug in models and/or those included in the actual appliance,thereby allowing the whole network of energy storage units to act as onesystem, e.g., one huge energy reserve, and/or to separate critical loadsso as to operate as individual fento, pico grids within the internalnano or micro grid, or as individual and or micro grids within the microand mega and/or super grids.

In such instances, communication between the individual and/orcollective of smart energy storage units may take place between them,such as on a local level, where individual systems communicate e.g., viaWiFi, Bluetooth, Low Energy Bluetooth, Dash7, Zigbee, or even PLC, so asto create a local storage network that is capable of aggregating allstorage and/or discharge into one system. Additionally, this networkedcommunication system can have one coordinator that connects to andcontrols all of the individual energy storage units, and may further beconnected to the internet, e.g., the world wide web, such as viacellular, WIFI, LAN connection, or the like. In such an instance, thecoordinator, e.g., via the internet, may be configured to connect asecure cloud server (DRMS), which cloud server can further be connectedto the Distributed Services Organization or other grid operator or thirdparty may then control any and all of the interconnected storage unitsso as to control them individually or collectively such as with respectto charging and discharging.

Accordingly, as can be seen with respect to the above, the smart energystorage units disclosed herein are highly stackable, expandable, andconfigurable so to be able to form various different types of internaland/or external networks, such as to form one or more of a fento, apico, a nano, a micro, a macro, a mega, and/or a super smart grid.Further, as each individual smart asset, e.g., smart energy storageunit, includes a control unit, the control unit may be configured tolearn based on usage of each individual storage unit, e.g., with respectto times of charge and discharge, rate, time of day, and the like,and/or the collection of storage units, such as via the associatedsoftware and/or hardware, so as to better perform its function and/orfunctions, such as in concert. This modular design allows grid operatorsand/or end users, e.g., electricity customers, to build a networkedsystem in small pieces. This will further help with determining the mosteffective system configuration prior to making large upfront investmenttherein.

Further, as grid operators and/or customers expand the network toinclude more and more smart assets, e.g., smart energy storage units,the system software can be configured to recognize the new units in theexpanded network, and those units can be added into the collectivenetworked system milieu, such as by asking the customer to opt in andthereby all the new units to be joined the grid. In a manner such asthis, the networked grid can be built organically unit by unit and asystem map of the distributed storage platform can be determined and/orotherwise implemented. In various instances, the hardware may also beconfigured so as to be physically stackable, such as in instances wheremultiple physical storage units are desired to be co-located.

For instance, the individual units can be configured so as to snap intoplace such as side to side, back to front, one on top of the other, suchas like LEGOs®, so as to accommodate the dimensions of the availablespace in which the unit(s) will be positioned for use. In this modularmanner, the user does not have to be stuck with a one “size fits all”model, but rather can configure the individual storage cells within theunits, and the individual units within the system, as desired therebymaking integration of storage easy, even in very compact spaces likeindividual appliances, cars, boats, garages, apartments, and the like.

Accordingly, in various instances, as appropriate, a micro, nano, pico,and/or fento grid may be a networked smart grid system that stabilizesthe grid by enabling one or more of a community, a facility, e.g., ahouse or building, or a room thereof, or an appliance therein, to runeven when a larger grid connection is unavailable, such as when thelarger grid is shut-down or when for whatever reason the smaller gridhas been replaceably islanded from the larger grid network. In suchinstances, the smaller grid network may include one or more of a smartpower generation source, such as a renewable resource power generator,e.g., a source of photovoltaic or wind generated power, and/or a smartenergy storage unit, wherein the smart power generator and/or smartenergy storage unit may each or collectively have a control mechanism,e.g., power electronics, capable of controlling its operation and/or itsconnectivity with the larger grid, such that the power generator and/orstorage unit may reversibly switch, e.g., automatically, between beingconnected and disconnected from the larger grid. In such a manner,energy can switchably be supplied to and/or withdrawn from theparticular grid, e.g., on the distribution side, the consumer side, suchas via a consumer side power generation source, and/or by the gridassociated energy storage cells, as herein described, distributedthroughout the distribution and/or consumer side of the grid, such thatenergy can controllably be supplied to the grid by a portion or all ofthe available networked power supply sources, and/or removed from thegrid by being stored in a portion or all of the available networkedenergy storage cells and/or units of the particular grid. Alternatively,any sub portion of the grid may be replaceably islanded from the largergrid in a manner such that energy does not flow to or from one portionto the other portion of the grid, e.g., to or from a parent grid. Insuch an instance, any power supply, either by generation or via storedenergy storage units, does not flow back on to the grid.

Accordingly, in a manner such as this, the legacy macro grid can bebuilt up into mega and/or even super grid networks, broken down intomicro grid networks, including nano, pico, or even fento grid networks,whereby the flow and/or storage of electricity can be closely monitored,finely tuned, and minutely regulated. More particularly, given thedevices, systems, networks, and methods of using the same hereinpresented, the flow of electricity through one or more of these gridnetworks can be closely monitored as to usage from as wide as anationwide or international scale to as small as a room by room or anappliance by appliance basis. From the widely distributed sources ofenergy storage, as herein presented, energy can be supplied to the grid,locally as needed by the DSO communicating with and activating therelevant control mechanisms of the networked and active storage unitsthat is nearest to the needed event and instructing them to release apredetermined amount of stored energy in a manner such that the energyreleased closely matches the demand of energy needed thereby reducingtransmission costs and stabilizing the grid.

A further advantage the proposed devices, systems, networks, and themethods of using the same, as herein presented, is that they can also becoupled to various different sources of renewable power generation so asto allow for the close monitoring, finely tuning, and minutelyregulation of the flow of energy from these alternative sources of powerproduction. Presently, the energy produced by solar and/or wind farms istypically being produced and released on to the grid substantiallyimmediately after production in an intermittent and fluctuating manner.This is problematic because the legacy macro-grid was designed todeliver power consistently from source to use. Such grids can only runefficiently when the power being produced and supplied to the grid isstable, non-fluctuating, and predictable. As such, the legacy grid isunidirectional and cannot readily accommodate let alone control energyflowing from alternative power generation sources and/or flowing fromthe consumer side toward the distribution side of the grid. Forinstance, with the introduction of renewable energy, Utilities oftenneed to actually stop the bidirectional flow of energy back onto thegrid from these power generation sources at peak time energy use andgeneration due to the uncontrollable and inconsistent power coming fromrenewables. In many instances, these generators need to be taken offlineentirely during peak time demand. The DSO currently has no way tomonitor, account for, tune, or otherwise control the flow of electricityfrom these renewable sources of power generation. This is largely truefor alternative power production on the commercial side as it is for onthe consumer side.

More particularly, distributed energy production resources, e.g., DERs,such as rooftop solar and/or wind turbine generation on either thecommercial and/or customer side of the meter has proven problematic forthe legacy grid to handle. For instance, regardless of being on thecommercial or consumer side of the grid, the grid operator currentlydoes not have a way to track, direct, and/or otherwise control theelectricity being produced and shoved back onto the grid from the sideof renewable resource power production. As indicated, the traditionalgrid was not designed to accommodate a bidirectional flow ofelectricity. However, with the growing number of renewable resourcepower generation systems, such as being installed on the commercial andconsumer side of the grid, ever increasing amounts of power is now beingsupplied to the grid from these sources, causing large, intermittentfluctuations, and wide scale grid destabilizations. A huge problem,therefore, with these set ups is that they do not place any controlmechanisms for the Utilities to help manage these distributed assets.And will not allow for usage during blackouts or brownouts

Hence, instead of helping to smooth out the supply curve by meetingdemand and making the grid more stable, such power generation isactually destabilizing the grid. Such destabilization makes the gridunmanageable by DSOs' that other than price regulation lack propercontrols beyond the meter to handle the fluctuations due to commercialand/or consumer side power production. This is due in part because thelegacy grid does not allow for real time information related toalternative power production, e.g., on the consumer side, to be relayedto and from the grid, which is made even more problematic in view of theuptrend and adoption of commercial and consumer side generation.

However, the smart energy storage units and/or the smart energy controlunits disclosed herein can be coupled to these sources of powergeneration so as to give a user of the same the ability to closelymonitor, finely tune, and minutely regulate the flow of electricity backon to the grid at a time, place, amount, rate, form, and qualitydetermined by the user, such as a power generation controller, anelectricity service provider, an electricity consumer, and/or a thirdparty regulator or monitor. More particularly, given the devices,systems, networks, and methods of using the same herein presented, thebi-directional flow of electricity into and/or out of one or more ofthese grid networks can be established, closely monitored, regulated andcontrolled so as to obviated the destabilizations that often occur dueto their intermittent production and fluctuating dumping of electricityon to the grid, for instance, as it is produced.

Accordingly, a unique feature of the smart devices, systems, networks,circuits, and methods disclosed herein is that they are configured suchthat they can be run off of any source of power generation, includingsolar, wind, hydroelectric, generator, or energy storage cell inaddition to the traditional grid power, despite the fact that the legacygrid was designed to deliver stable energy from very linearly operatingand predictable fossil fueled power plants to consumers. However, thesmart energy storage units and/or the smart energy control unitsdisclosed herein can allow for the bi-directional flow of energythroughout the grid and its component parts such that the energy flowmay be monitored, controlled and/or maintained, for instance, duringpeak time demand and/or generation so as to reduce the loads thereof andthereby produce and/or maintain a very stable grid, without having toreplace the current grid infrastructure. This will, in turn, help createbetter customer satisfaction and enables Distributed ServicesOrganizations to increase the renewable energy production and stopunwanted bidirectional flow from DER's onto the grid when desired orneeded.

The energy storage units herein provided are useful on the commercialside of the grid as well as on the consumer side of the grid. Forexample, large capacity, industrial sized energy storage units alongwith suitably configured control units, as described herein, may beprovided so as to act as an interface between the grid and powerproduction, e.g., from a traditional fossil fuel power generator and/ora renewable resource power generator. In such an instance, the powergenerated from these sources may be stored in one or more energy storageunits that can then be called on by the grid operator as needed such asin a closely monitored, finely tuned, and easily controlled andregulated manner. Such energy storage has been proposed for thecommercial side of the grid, such as for the use of centralized, largeindustrial batteries for the storage of excess energy produced by fossilfuel or renewable resource power generation, but has only been proposedto be implemented as a means for storing excess energy during times ofover production which energy is to be immediately discharged completelyto the grid in an uncontrollable, non-regulated manner, not allowing forthe energy stored to be discharged at designated times, during apredetermined time period or event, at a predetermined amount of power,at a location, level, and in a character of which the grid can make use.

More particularly, in order to be efficient, these industrial scalebatteries need to be able to quickly discharge the power stored thereinto the grid and ultimately to the consumer as rapidly as possible tomake room for the storage of newly generated energy. Unfortunately, themacro grid is simply not set up to be able to receive such amounts ofstored power without becoming destabilized. Consequently, currentbattery configurations for these proposed uses are only designed and/orsized to be a rapid transfer mechanism, and are not configured forlong-term or even mid-term storage solutions. Further, given the size ofthe batteries, e.g., the large amount of space they occupy, and theirneed to be located close to where the power to be stored is generated,they are not located where they would be most effective, such as closeto where the consumer will actually use the stored energy. Hence,because they are not located where power is needed, they become evenmore highly inefficient as a result of the power lost over thetransmission lines through which the generated power is transmitted fromthe production side through the distributor to the consumer side.

Despite these inefficiencies, by implementing the systems and methodsherein disclosed, traditional power generators as well as the largescale, commercial photovoltaic panels, wind turbines, and/orhydroelectric generators can generate power at a time most suitable totheir form of power generation, can store the generated power into oneor more of the energy storage units disclosed herein that have beensized and located as best suited to the need for energy storage, and viathe suitably configured control units, release that energy to the gridas needed, in a quantity, at a time, and over a duration that will allowthe grid operator to make use of that energy as needed and in a mannerthat will not cause destabilizations to occur within the grid net work.For instance, the energy storage units herein disclosed may beconstructed so as to be industrial sized, and can further be configuredto store a large amount of energy at any given time, but may further beconfigured for releasing that energy in quantities small enough and in amanner sufficient to equalize times of energy generation, e.g., by arenewable resource (when the sun is up or it is windy out), with demandside use (which typically happens at different times from such renewablegeneration).

Further, with the addition of distributed renewable energy generation onthe consumer side of the meter, such as via the widespread use of solarpanels and/or wind turbines, it was hoped that access to such sources ofalternative power generation would allow the consumer to be capable ofremoving themselves completely from the macro electric grid. However,having such power generation such as solar and/or wind power generatorshave not been capable of allowing the consumer to be self-sufficient.This is largely due to the fact that such sources of power generationhave not been designed so as to direct the power they produce to theresidence wherein they reside. Rather, the power they produce is simplyshoved back on to the grid causing the meter to run backwards. Hence,instead of allowing the consumer to be able to remove themselves fromthe grid, all that they gain is simply an offset between what energythey have used and the energy they have produced, the best possibleoutcome being a net zero amount being owed to the electricity serviceprovider, such as in instances where their power generation equals orexceeds their power consumption.

Additionally, local meter-side energy production creates other problemsin that typically all of the excess energy produced on the consumer sideof the meter by these DERs has to be pushed back on to the grid andstored thereon thus utilizing the grid as a large battery storagefacility, yet the grid was never designed to function in this manner,and hence, the more power being pushed on to the grid by the consumerside of the meter, the more the grid becomes destabilized. The more DERsthere are, the more consumer side power generated, the more problemsfaced by the legacy grid. Hence, in some areas, the Distributed ServicesOrganization cannot accept any more generation, and thus have to refusegrid tied DER installation to customers that want to install them. Insome instances, the DSO is even required to pay customers not to installone or more DER. The mechanisms and/or system disclosed herein, eitheron the commercial side or the consumer side of the meter allow the DSOto control the various distributed, grid tied DERs in a manner such thatthe grid can more fully accept and/or make use of such intermittentlygenerated power and more finely control that use so as to equate accessand utilization of such power with consumer side demand. In a mannersuch as this, the use of DERs can be implemented in a manner so as tomake the grid smart such as by configuring the DER, associated energystorage units, and/or control units for the same so as to operate in afashion that can make use of the fluctuating highs and lows of renewablepower generation in a manner that corresponds to the fluctuating usageof the consumer.

Accordingly, as discussed above, the traditional electrical network,e.g., the legacy grid, typically includes a centralized source of energyproduction and/or distribution that together function in a simple andlinear manner. The apparatuses, systems, and methods of using the same,as herein provided, however, are configured to be able to transform thelegacy grid into a smart grid that is much more resilient, non-linearlyadaptable, interconnected, and interactive, while at the same time beingsimple to understand, easy to connect with, use, and secure, withoutsubstantially compromising the lifestyle of the user.

In its simplest form, provided herein are intelligent control units, andtheir associated hardware and software, that can be inserted into thecurrent legacy grid in a variety of different manners so as to convertthe unintelligent legacy grid into an intelligent smart grid, capable offinely controlling the flow characteristics of electricity throughoutthe grid system, such as with respect to the quality, quantity, rate,timing, direction, location, etc. of the flow of electricity. Thecontrol units, herein provided, may be configured so as to be coupled toany suitable grid asset so as to be able to both control the operationof that asset, and to communicate with other such assets havingcorresponding control units. In this manner, the unintelligent, legacygrid assets, such as the power generators, distribution servers,transmission and distribution lines, as well as the transformers and/orother components of the present grid architecture may be enabled to beintelligent and capable of communicating with one another in order so asto be controllable, e.g., individually and/or collectively, with respectto their operation, by one or more users, such as a user positioned at acentralized control facility, such as a Distributed Service Organization(DSO).

In such an instance, the control unit may include a central processingunit for running the internal system, a memory having one or moreprograms for running the system in accordance with one or more runprofiles, a sensor and/or a monitor for sensing and/or monitoring asensed condition, a communications module for sending and receivingdata, e.g., user configurable instructions, a geo location device, e.g.,a GPS, for determining the location of the asset, and a controlmechanism capable of controlling the operation of the smart grid asset,such as in correspondence to one or more of the stored run profilesand/or received communication instructions.

For instance, where the smart asset is a source of power generation, asuitably coupled control unit may be configured for sensing one or moretransmission grid related conditions, communicating the same to acentralized command center, receiving one or more commands in responseto the transmitted communications of the sensed data, and further may beconfigured for changing the operational parameters of the powergenerator in correspondence with the operational change commandinstructions received from the centralized command center. For example,where the amount of energy being supplied to the grid is not sufficientto meet user demand, e.g., threatening a brown and/or a blackoutcondition, a command instruction may be delivered to the control unit,e.g., from a grid operator at a centralized energy production and/ormanagement center, instructing the control unit to fire up itsassociated generator so as to bring more electricity on line.

Further, where too much energy is being produced above and beyond thecurrent and/or predicted demand curves, thus requiring the energy to bedischarged before destabilization of the grid occurs, thereby beingwasted, the grid operator may instruct the control unit of the smartgenerator to cool down and take the generator off line, therebyameliorating such waste. Likewise, where the smart asset is adistribution server, a suitably coupled control unit may be configuredfor sensing one or more distribution grid related conditions,communicating the same to a centralized command center, receiving one ormore commands in response to the transmitted communications of thesensed data, and further may be configured for changing the operationalparameters of the distribution server in correspondence with theoperational change command instructions received from the centralizedcommand center. In these manners, a centralized controller can modulategrid transmissions by ramping up or ramping down grid assets and/or bybringing more assets online or taking more assets offline.

Such changes to the control paradigms of the electronically coupledsmart assets can be made remotely to the systems being controlled suchas by accessing a cloud based smart asset management system (SAMS). Insuch a system, the control unit of each individual smart asset may beconfigured to include a communications module that provides a wired orwireless connection to a network allowing access, e.g., cloud orcellular based access, to the centralized smart asset management system.For instance, one or more, e.g., each, of the smart assets hereindescribed can be networked together, in any suitable manner, and mayfurther be in communication with an “energy cloud”, through whichcommunications, information, and/or command instructions may flowbi-directionally, such as where the one or more smart grid assets sendsinformation pertaining to the status of its operations and/or qualityand/or amount of grid power flow generally, and in response theretoreceives information about the status of the system and/or its componentparts along with command instructions from the SAMS directing the smartasset in the performance of its operations.

Accordingly, a controller, such as a grid operator, service provider,electricity consumer, or third party regulator or monitor may be capableof accessing, e.g., via the cloud or suitable cellular interface, thecentralized SAMS, and through this interface, e.g., the cloud basedcommand center interface, the controller will be able to access relevantgrid operation status data and in response thereto may remotely controlthe run parameters of one or more of the widely distributed smart assetsso as to modulate and control their functioning, and thereby to largelycontrol the generation and/or flow of electricity and itscharacteristics across the grid.

A problem however revolves around the fact that even though the smartcontrol units disclosed herein are capable of both being operationallycoupled with and controlling the legacy grid assets as well ascommunicating with one another, e.g., via the cloud or cellular network,so as to thereby be controlled, such as by a centrally located, remotecontroller, e.g., a grid operator; the archaic infrastructure of thelegacy grid, such as with respect to its power generators, peakerplants, and outdated transmission and distribution lines, not to mentionthe decaying and overloaded transformers, is simply not capable of beingcontrolled in a manner that is agile enough to respond rapidly to theintermittent and fluctuating demands of the fickle consumer.

As such, simply providing a universal communications, centralized dataprocessing, and operational command center, does not fully alleviate theproblems with the legacy grid nor provide the fine tuned control thesystem actually needs if it is to be run efficiently, withoutdestabilization, and without inconveniencing the consumer's dailyroutines. What is further needed, therefore, is a nimble system forproviding or withdrawing more precise amounts of energy in smallerpackets, e.g., more finely tuned quantums of energy, quickly to or fromthe grid, more accurately located to the area of increased or decreasedneed, so as to be better able to swiftly and precisely match the energysupply curve to the energy demand curve in a manner that is more exactlytargeted to where that energy is needed so as to thereby rapidlystabilize the grid, thus, obviating the threat of brown and/or black outconditions.

Consequently, provided herein are smart energy storage units that can benetworked together and distributed widely across the grid, which unitscan be configured for being controlled individually and/or collectivelyso as to quickly and quantifiably supply energy to the grid, such as attimes of increased need, e.g., times of peak energy demand, and removeenergy from the grid, such as at times of over-production or decreaseddemand. As described in great detail herein, the smart energy storageunits include a control unit having a communications module and acontrol mechanism whereby the individual storage units may becontrolled, such as remotely, by receiving command instructions from acentralized smart asset management system networked therewith, e.g., viathe cloud or cellular network, so as to independently or collectively becharged or discharged as needed to stabilize the grid. Further, becauseeach energy storage unit and/or each storage cell therein has a knownstorage capacity and may have a position location identifier, e.g., GPS,the SAMS may be capable of instructing each individual storage cell ofeach individual unit, e.g., individually or collectively, to release orwithdraw a more precise amount of energy to or from the grid at aposition determined to be close to where the positive or negative energyspike is occurring so as to more immediately stabilize the grid.

Hence, presented herein, in various embodiments are networked,distributed energy storage systems (NDESS) comprising individual smartenergy storage units that are capable of being interconnected with eachother and/or the electrical grid, such as on the service and/or consumerside of the meter, in a manner to provide grid energy storage and supplythat may be distributed widely and positioned all over the grid, such asat each particular end users location. Each smart energy storage unitmay be configured so as to easily connect to the grid, such as via astandard electrical outlet, and/or may be connected directly into thegrid such as by being wired into the electricity control panel and/ormeter. Further, each storage unit may include high bandwidth, wirelessnetwork and/or cellular capabilities so as to be able to communicatewith one another and/or with a centralized smart asset management system(SAMS) and/or a controller(s) thereof, and/or with other remotenetworked device(s), such as via the cloud and/or via cellularcommunication technology.

For instance, in various instances, the DSO, Distributed ServiceOrganizations, electricity consumer, and/or third party may connect withthe smart energy unit; and the smart energy unit may connect with theDSO, consumer, third party, and/or other networked smart energy devicesto effectively coordinate energy storage and supply. More particularly,the DSO, electricity consumer, and/or third party may employ theircomputing technology of choice, e.g., their mobile, handheld or desktopcomputer, such as their mobile smart phone, tablet, and/or laptopcomputing device, so as to connect with and configure the smart energystorage unit. Likewise, the smart energy unit may wirelessly connectwith other networked smart energy units, such as in local proximitythere with, e.g., by issuing a coded pulse on the electrical circuit andmeasuring the time for a responses so as to determine relative distance,and in a manner such as this, the smart units within a defined localproximity of one another may be defined and may communicate with eachother, and/or a central controller, e.g., via a cloud based or cellularnetwork system, so as to coordinate their activities.

Accordingly, in various embodiments, the smart energy storage unit maybe self-contained and may include a smart networking capability so as toenable rapid storage and deployment of energy, such as by withdrawingenergy from the grid automatically and/or upon command, e.g., uponcommand from the local Utility companies (sometimes referred to hereinas Distributed Service Organizations or DSO), electricity user, or thirdparty, so as to generate a reserve of stored energy; which store ofenergy the Utility or other end user may readily access, aggregate, anddeploy so as to supply energy to the grid so as to thereby stabilize thegrid during times of risked instability. More particularly, in variousembodiments, the smart energy storage units may be operated by one orboth of the DSO (or other third party) or the direct electricityconsumer, e.g., homeowner, office manager, business owner, or the like,such that either party may have the ability to level the electric load(peak shaving) and reduce the overall electric bill, while providingsignificant local energy stability and security, such as during times ofgrid disruption.

In general, each energy storage unit may include one or more energystorage cells, wherein each energy storage cell contains a storage mediacapable of receiving the energy within an electrical current, e.g., a DCcurrent, and storing it, such as in a chemical form. As the number ofcells included within the storage unit may differ, the amount of energycapable of being stored within and provided by the storage unit mayvary, such as in accordance with user needs, for instance, so as toprovide from one or two to several gigawatt-hours of energy storage.

However, in various particular embodiments, a typical energy storageunit, such as those to be deployed on the consumer side of the grid, mayinclude two, or four, or six, or eight, or ten or more energy storagecells, which storage cells may be configured to include an energystorage medium, such as Zinc Manganese Oxide (ZMO), so as to provide atotal nominal capacity of about one or two or about ten or fifteen, orabout twenty or twenty five or about fifty or one-hundred, or abouttwo-hundred or three hundred, or even about five hundred or a thousandor more kilowatts per hour of use. For instance, in some particularembodiments, the size, shape, and number of smart energy storage cellsto be included within the unit are sized so as to give the unit astorage capacity of about 2 or about 2.2 kWh, 5 kWh, 10 kWh, 20 kWh, 25kWh, 50 kWH, 100 kWh, 500 kWh, 1,000 kWh, or any combination thereofand/or there between. For instance, in various instances, the smartenergy units may be capable of being interconnected, e.g., stackedtogether, so as to function in concert as one complete unit. Suchinterconnection can be physically, such as by plugging one unit into theother so as to provide a combined storage capacity, and/or it can beelectronically, such as by being wired or connected such as through acellular, wife, or web based network. In various instances, each smartunit may be configured so as to have a nominal voltage of about 1 toabout 10 VDC, such as about 24 or 25 VDC to about 50 to about 100 VDC,for instance, about 200 or about 300 VDC to about 400 or about 500 VDC,or more. It is to be noted that although ZMO is referenced herein as anexemplary storage medium, other suitable storage mediums may also beemployed such as Lithium Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride, and the like. Hence,in various instances, the smart energy storage unit may include and/orbe configured as a ZMO battery, lead-acid battery, Lithium Ion battery,Nickel Metal Hydride battery, and/or other energy storage technologiesmay be used, such as fuel cells.

Further, as indicated above, each smart energy unit, and/or the energystorage cells thereof, may include a control unit, including a systemcontrol mechanism, which system control mechanism may further include orbe operably connected with a smart cell management system, e.g., abattery management system, collectively: SC/BMS, which system may beconfigured to measure and report the charge status and other criticalparameters for each energy storage cell and/or the unit as a whole, andmay further direct the charging and discharging of the cells of thestorage unit.

For instance, the SC/BMS may be designed and configured so as to provideboth overarching and fine detail direction to the other components ofthe system both within and without of the energy storage unit(s). Invarious instances, the one or more system components may include one ormore displays or other user communication interface(s), whereby the usercan interact with the SC/BMS, and the SC/BMS may present the user withvarious operational control options, such as via a graphical userinterface. For example, the energy storage unit may include a sensorand/or monitor capable of sensing and/or monitoring one or moreconditions in the system, and may be configured for communicating theone or more conditions to the BMS. The BMS, in turn, may be configuredfor receiving the data communicated by the sensor and/or monitor, and orother associated data, including user input data, and may be configuredfor compiling and processing that data, and then presenting that data toa user, such as in one or more menu options and/or system updates,and/or warnings or alerts. Accordingly, the energy storage unit mayinclude a communications module that includes a user interface, such asfor the inputting and/or displaying of data, which inputting of data maybe through a keyboard, a mouse, a touch screen, or via an operableconnection with another control device, and the BMS may includeinformation processing capabilities so as to process the input dataand/or to change the operations of the system in response thereto.

More particularly, the SC/BMS can be coupled with a sensor and/ormonitor system such that the sensor and/or monitor may sense and/ormonitor one or more system condition parameters and communicate the sameback the BMS. For example, the sensor and/or monitor may be configuredfor monitoring the voltage level within each of the individual energystorage cells of the energy storage unit, which may be indicative ofcharge level, as well as monitoring for cell temperature, current level,and flow direction (which may be indicative of charging and dischargingand/or the rate and volume associated therewith). Additionally, themonitor and/or sensor may be configured for sensing and monitoring keyperformance and reliability metrics within each module, and may furtherbe configured for communicating the same to the SC/BMS, such as formaximizing module life and providing a warning of degraded operations soas to inform the user of potential maintenance requirements.

In various embodiments, the BMS may typically be configured so as tointerface with two sets of users, such as through being coupled withinternal wired or wireless networking capabilities. For instance, in afirst instance, the BMS may be configured so as to communicate, e.g.,through an appropriately configured communications module, with theapplicable DSO, and in a second instance, the BMS may be configured soas to communicate with the immediate electricity consumer housing theenergy storage unit.

In such instances, the Distributed Services Organization may communicatewith one or the entire network of energy storage units and/or thestorage cells thereof, so as to monitor, aggregate, and/or control themassive distributed energy storage supply represented by the grid-widedeployed smart energy storage units, e.g., collectively and/orindividually. For example, the DSO may access the proprietary smartasset management system (SAMS) control system, such as via the cloud orvia a cellular network, which control system may then be configured bythe DSO for controlling each individual energy storage cell within eachenergy storage unit, both individually and collectively, such as withrespect to the charging and/or discharging of the individual storagecells within the individual storage units, either collectively orsequentially, as determined by the Distributed Services Organization.Accordingly, in a manner such as this, the DSO is capable of directingwhich energy storage cell and/or units are to withdraw energy from thegrid and store it, such as for later use; and which energy storage celland units are going to discharge and thereby supply energy to the grid,such as for immediate, e.g., local use, as well as directing when andwhere the charging and/or discharging will occur along with the rate andquantity of the same.

In other instances, the individual user may communicate with a singleunit and/or with a plurality of units that have been networked andconfigured into a system, such as into a sub-grid network of energystorage units, so as to monitor, aggregate, and/or control thedistributed energy storage supply represented by the one or moredeployed smart energy storage units of the sub-grid. For example, theuser may access the proprietary smart asset management system (SAMS)control system, such as via the cloud or via a cellular network, whichcontrol system may then be configured by the user for controlling eachindividual energy storage cell within each energy storage unit, bothindividually and collectively, such as with respect to the chargingand/or discharging of the individual storage cells within the individualstorage units, either collectively or sequentially, as determined by theuser. Accordingly, in a manner such as this, the user is capable ofdirecting which energy storage cell and/or units are to withdraw energyfrom the grid and store it, such as for later use; and which energystorage cell and units are going to discharge and thereby supply energyto the grid, such as for immediate, e.g., local use, as well asdirecting when and where the charging and/or discharging will occuralong with the rate and quantity of the same.

Additionally, with respect to the individual user controlfunctionalities, the individual user may instruct the BMS as to one ormore of their personal status updates, so as to inform the unit of theirindividual power requirements, such as by informing the control unitsthat they will need less energy over a given time period, e.g., “theyare going on vacation;” or that they will need more energy over a giventime period, e.g., “they are having a party on a given date,” and thelike. Such information can be communicated to the DSO and will enablegreater use of the local storage capacity for grid stabilization, suchas while the user is away and not in need of using the system; andfurther would prioritize more capacity to local use to ensure there isenergy availability, such as during the times of increased need, such asduring an event important to the consumer. As indicated above, the usermay interface with the BMS through a communications module, such aswhere the communications module includes a wireless or cellular basedinterface, thereby allowing the user to configure the system via a smartdevices e.g. smart phone, tablet computer, laptop computer, or the like.

Further, while the Distributed Services Organization may be givenoverarching control of the networked, e.g., far ranging and/or local,energy storage units; in various other instances, the individualconsumer may also have the ability to configure the smart energy unit'soperational parameters, such as with respect to charging and/ordischarging, such as by choosing to “opt out” of the macro grid and/orby islanding their associated unit or system of units from the macrogrid, and configuring the same so as to supply energy internally, e.g.,to only supply energy internally, such as to an internal micro, nano,pico, and/or fento grid, and/or may further configure the unit, orsystem of units, to not supply energy externally of said grids, such asto not supply energy to a more wide spread macro grid.

Accordingly, as indicated herein, some unique features of the energystorage units disclosed herein are not only their ease of installation,such as in some instances by simply plugging them into an electricaloutlet; but also their ability to be connected and disconnected from thegrid with ease. More particularly, a unique feature of the energystorage units disclosed herein is that they may be inserted into orotherwise coupled with a larger grid, such as a macro gird servicing acommunity and/or facility, may be networked together, and maycollectively be configured to remove the associated community and/orfacility, or portions thereof, from the larger, macro grid network.

Specifically, as described in greater detail herein below, the smartenergy storage units herein disclosed may be distributed throughout oneor more appliances, one or more rooms, one or more portions of one ormore facilities of one or more communities, and can then be insertedinto the grid, and networked together in such a manner that oncecharged, the network of distributed energy units can be configured anddeployed in such a manner so as to completely remove, e.g., island, thatappliance or group of appliances, the room or group of rooms, thefacility or group of facilities, the community or group of communitiescompletely from the grid, so as to form one or more of a smart fentogrid, a smart pico grid, a smart nano grid, and/or a smart micro gridrespectively, where the interconnection of the smaller islanded sub-gridwith the larger grid may be easily switched between being connectedtherewith and being disconnected therefrom.

In such a manner, the distributed storage units may be configured so asto supply energy to the immediate grid with which they are coupled, andmay further be configured to not supply energy to the larger grid ornetworks of grids, such as in a reversible fashion. Hence, in variousembodiments, the various, e.g., collective, of smart control units maybe configured to individually and/or collectively be switched from beingassociated with the larger grid, e.g., the larger macro grid, so as toreceive energy therefrom and/or to supply energy thereto, and may beconfigured for being disassociated therefrom, so as to not receiveenergy therefrom or supply energy thereto, as needed and/or desired.

Accordingly, depending on the configuration of the units as well as theconfiguration of their respective control mechanisms, there are severallevels of islanding capabilities of the systems disclosed herein. Forexample, in one such instance, one or more single units may be isolated,and in other instances, an entire circuit or collection of circuitscontaining a plurality of energy storage units may be isolated. Moreparticularly, where a single unit isolation configuration is desired,such an isolation may be effectuated by simply eliminating the flow ofelectricity through the electric plug of the isolated unit(s), such asupon sensing that the grid is unstable, e.g., by flipping an electronicand/or physical gating source switch.

In such an instance, whether islanded or not, the energy storage unitmay provide power to the local circuit with which it is connected,thereby supplying power to any and all appliances coupled with thecircuit, and/or a user may directly plug one or more appliances to berun off the energy storage unit directly into the unit. Hence, invarious instances, the unit itself can be used directly to supplyelectricity to one or more appliances that are coupled therewith, suchas by the appliance being electrically coupled with the unit, such as bybeing “plugged” into it. For instance, the unit may include a receivingend of an electrical outlet, e.g., the female portion of a two or threepronged connector, a USB port, an HDMI port, an optical port, areceiving end of a multi pin connector, a receiving end of a lightningport, an SD I/O port, and/or other associated input port that isconfigured for conveying data and/or stored energy from the storagecells of the unit to the device with which the unit is connected.

Typically, the transference of electricity from the smart energy storagedevice will be via a wired connection, but in some instances, thetransfer of energy may be configured so as to be wireless, such asthrough induction. In such an instance, the energy storage unit mayinclude an appropriate inductive coil, and/or other antenna, and/orcontrol circuitry for producing an inductive charge that can be used tocharge and/or supply energy to a suitably configured appliance, e.g.,having a corresponding inductive coil, power transfer interface, andcontrol circuitry therein.

Additionally, in various instances, the one or more energy storage unitsmay include an electricity transfer interface that will allow the unitto be charged either from the grid itself, or to be charged on theconsumer side of the grid, such as from a non-grid tied energygeneration source. For instance, in certain embodiments, the energystorage unit may be charged by being coupled to an auxiliary powergenerator and/or a source of renewable power generation, such as aphotovoltaic panel and/or a wind turbine, or the like. In such a manner,the smart storage unit(s) may be charged directly by being electricallycoupled to the independent source of power generation, such as in amanner that is not tied to the grid. Further, as indicated above, thispower transfer from the source of generation to the energy storage unitis typically performed through a wired configuration, but may at timesbe done wirelessly, such as where the energy storage unit may include anappropriate inductive coil, and/or other antenna or receiver, and/orcontrol circuitry for receiving an inductive charge that can be used tocharge and/or supply energy to the one or more energy storage cellselectrically coupled therein. In such an instance, the control system ofthe smart unit may be configured in such a manner that the inductivecharging is performed in accordance with the appropriate interfacestandard, such as one or more of WPC “Qi”, A4WP, PMA, WiPower, NearField Communication, and the like.

As indicated above, in various instances, an entire circuit orcollection of circuits, e.g., containing a plurality of energy storageunits, may be isolated, e.g., collectively. More particularly, where oneor more entire circuits or energy storage units are desired to beislanded, such isolation may be performed by inserting a suitablyconfigured control mechanism, as disclosed herein, directly into thegrid, such as on the service and/or consumer side of the meter. Forinstance, a networked power coordination unit may be provided andphysically connected to the residential or commercial power distributionbox. In such an instance, the networked power coordination unit may beconfigured and positioned so as to interconnect between the grid feedline and the master switch on the distribution panel, so as to provide asingle islanding point, to measure, and/or to control grid connectivityand thereby control flows from and back into the grid.

Accordingly, where the islanding of one or more circuits within asub-portion of a larger grid circuit is desired, the networked powercoordination unit may be provided so as to electrically and/or oroperationally be connected with the larger grid network at a positionthat will enable the sub-portion of the grid to be islanded from thelarger grid portion, such as via operation of the networked powercoordination unit, and thereby to create an isolated sub-grid network,such as an islanded micro, nano, pico, and/or islanded fento grid.Hence, in various embodiments, the present disclosure is directed to anetworked power coordination unit that can be configured to be coupledto a grid network so as to effectively create an islanded sub-portionthereof and consequently to create a smaller grid system such as amicro, a nano, a pico, and/or a fento grid system that may beoperational within the larger grid network, e.g., the macro grid,regardless of being operably connected therewith or not.

More specifically, the control circuitry of the networked powercoordination unit may be configured so as to control, dynamicallyallocate, and/or isolate or join the individual circuits within asub-grid, e.g., a micro, nano, pico, and/or fento grid (e.g., atresidence, office building, and/or a portion thereof) to form andprioritize the sub-grid, and/or its component parts, so as to moreeffectively organize and use the smart grid assets, such as thedistributed energy storage units disclosed herein. Specifically, invarious instances, the networked power coordination unit may beconfigured so as to control, at least in part, the created sub-portionof the network, e.g., to at least partly control and enable theoperations of the created micro, nano, pico, and/or fento grid systems,whether or not they have been completely islanded from the larger gridnetwork.

Additionally, in various instances, the networked power coordinationunit can be coupled to a consumer side source of power generation, suchas at the grid side interface, so as to control and direct the supply ofpower from the consumer side source of power generation, such as forinstance externally to the larger macro grid or internally such as to alocal micro, nano, pico, and/or fento grid. In such a manner, thenetworked power coordination unit can be configured as the gridinterconnection for local renewable energy, so as to best capture alarger portion, e.g., all, of the renewable power generated, minimize oreliminate backward power flows and/or leakage, and ensure that localgeneration is employed and used to power a localized sub-grid, such asan islanded sub grid, such as whenever the macro grid in disrupted.

For example, the source of local and/or consumer side renewable energygeneration, whether rooftop solar, wind turbines, fuel cells, or othergenerator types, may be electrically and/or operably connected, e.g.,directly, with the networked power coordination unit in such a manner soas to enable the control unit to convert these inputs into high qualityAC at the appropriate voltage, in accordance with the methods andsystems disclosed herein with reference to control units generally, soas to controllably convert and/or supply the generated energy to thegrid, such as upon command of the grid operator, electricity serviceprovider, electricity consumer and/or a third party. Alternatively, thecontrol unit may direct the locally generated power into a sub-networkcircuit so as to supply power to one or more smart grid assetsassociated and/or networked with the sub-grid circuit.

More particularly, the networked power coordination unit interface cancontrol the amount of energy, if any, to be pushed back on to the grid,such as when the consumer side power generator produces too much powerto be used by the consumer and/or locally networked community. Thus, insuch a manner, any excess energy produced above the current load demand,may be directed back on to the grid, such as by and through thenetworked power coordination unit. Further, in accordance with all ofthe control units disclosed herein, the networked power coordinationunit may be configured to have full network communication capability, asdisclosed herein, and may be configured to sense, monitor, and reportusage, storage, and local power generation to the user, e.g., DSO,consumer, or third party, and/or to receive information and directionfrom the DSO to best utilize its distributed energy resources, e.g., thesmart power generators and/or associated smart energy storage and/orcontrol units associated therewith.

In various instances, individual unit and/or circuit isolation may takeplace intentionally, such as at the command of the grid operator,electricity service provider, consumer, or third party. In otherinstances, such isolation may take place automatically, such as wherethe system senses a perceived threat to the power supply and makes anoperational adjustment so as to automatically island the individualunit(s) and/or a circuit including the same, such as in an automaticresponse to macro or larger sub grid outage. The effectuation of suchisolating may take place in any suitable manner, such as when a singleor circuit isolation protocol intentionally “pops” the circuit breakerso as to thereby intentionally island the individual energy storageunit(s) and/or one or more circuits including the same. In such aninstance, once islanded, the power needs required to service theappliances serviced by the units and/or the islanded circuits containingsuch units will then be supplied by the actual units themselves and notfrom a connection with the larger grid network. Hence, in such aninstances, energy supplied to the circuit will be from its associatedand/or networked smart energy storage unit(s).

More particularly, there is a plurality of ways that a smart energystorage unit and/or a control unit thereof, e.g., a networked powercoordination unit, may be configured to recognize a grid power failureand thereby initiate an automatic or directed circuit isolation. Forexample, information pertaining to a threat to the power supply, e.g., apower outage warning, may be transmitted, e.g., from the DSO or otherparty monitor, such as via the wireless cellular network, and/or suchinformation may be sensed directly by the control unit of the smartenergy storage unit. For instance, the control unit may include a sensorand/or monitor that is configured so as to be able to sense and/ormonitor various of the characteristics of power transmission throughoutthe grid. Hence, in certain embodiments, automatic grid isolation mayoccur such as by the suitably configured sensor, sensing that grid powertransmission is at its voltage and/or frequency limits. In such aninstance, the control unit may initiate a protocol designed to isolatethe storage unit(s) and/or one or more circuits including the same.

More specifically, as described in greater detail herein below, invarious instances, the control unit may include or otherwise be coupledwith a Grid-Flexible Inverter (GFI). In such an instance, the GFI may beconfigured to isolate the storage unit(s) and/or circuits including thesame, in any suitable manner, such as by applying an output current,e.g., to the consumer side control panel, that is greater than thecombined circuit load on the relevant circuit to be isolated, and/orabove the circuit breaker rated current protection, such as for aduration longer than the circuit breaker time constant, so as to tripthe circuit breaker and thereby island the circuit and/or the associatedsmart energy storage unit(s) associated therewith. In such an instance,the associated energy storage units may be de-coupled from the grid andactivated to supply energy to the islanded circuit and/or devices, suchas the devices associated with the relevant circuit, so as to meet thenormal load supply from its contained energy storage cells therebysatisfying the existing load on the circuit.

Accordingly, in various instances, the smart energy storage units mayinclude a Grid-Flexible Converter (GFC), or other form of converter,inverter, and/or rectifier. More particularly, a unique feature ofdirect current (DC) is that it does not typically travel efficientlyover small to mid range distances, but may travel much more efficientlysuch as over long to very long range distances, such as through thetransmission and/or distribution lines that connect the source of powergeneration with the ultimate location of energy use. Accordingly, inorder to transmit electricity over short to mid range distances, thecurrent is typically transmitted as alternating current (AC), and inorder to transmit electricity over long to very long range distances,the current is typically transmitted as direct current (DC).

So being, the electricity to be stored by one or more of the energystorage units herein disclosed is often received as a form ofalternating current, but in some instances may be received as directcurrent, such as if the transmission distance is long. However, in orderto be stored by the energy storage cells of the energy storage units, itis necessary to convert the AC to DC, such as prior to storage in thestorage cells as chemical energy. The BMS, therefore, may include orotherwise be operably coupled with an converter, such as a Grid-FlexibleConverter (GFC), such as a converter that is configured for convertingAC power to DC power (such as for storage), and further capable ofconverting DC power to AC power (such as for supply), and/or the BMS mayfurther include or otherwise be operably coupled with a inverter and/orrectifier. However, in particular instances, the BMS may include orotherwise be operably coupled with a dual converter such as the GFCdisclosed herein.

Accordingly, in certain embodiments, a GFC may be provided such as wherethe GFI is configured to provide bidirectional AC to DC and/or DC to ACconversions. In various instances, the converter, inverter and/orrectifier can be configured so as to operate just as efficiently andeffectively regardless of whether it is grid-tied or non gird-tied,and/or remote. Where the GFC is configured so as to be remote, it mayfurther be configured to coordinate with one or more of the otherstorage units of the network and/or systems, such as within the samegrid network. In such an instance, the GFC may be configured so as tobetter coordinate and/or synchronize the charging and discharging of thesmart grid assets, such as with respect to stabilizing the electricitybeing provided to the gird, e.g., as AC electricity, and/or stabilizingthe electricity being removed from the grid and/or converted to DCelectricity for storage.

Accordingly, in various instances, depending on the set up of theassociated storage units and/or individual storage cells therein, and/orthe architecture of the smart energy unit network and/or architecture ofthe plurality of energy cell circuits within the unit, the electricitybeing received from the grid for storage within the smart energy storagecells, and/or the energy being withdrawn therefrom and pushed thereby onto the grid for supply, may need to be changed in one way or another,such as to be inverted and/or converted from one form to another.

For instance, in certain particular embodiments, where the energystorage unit is configured for withdrawing electricity from the grid,such as for storage as energy, such as where the electricity beingtransmitted through the grid is in the form of an alternating current(AC), and where the energy to be stored within the energy cells of theenergy storage unit needs to be received thereby in the form of directcurrent (DC), so as to more efficiently convert the electrical energyinto chemical energy, e.g., via the contained chemical media; the ACelectricity may need to first be inverted, such as by associatedinverter circuitry, e.g., via an appropriately configured inverterdevice, into DC, and may further need to be stepped up or down, such asby associated converter circuitry, e.g., via an appropriately configuredconverter device, to a voltage suitable for converting the DC power intostored energy, such as stored chemical energy. Additionally, where theenergy storage unit is configured for supplying energy to the grid, suchas for enhancing the available energy supply for the serviced gridnetwork, such as where the energy being stored is in the form ofchemical energy that is to be converted to DC electricity prior to beingsupplied to the grid, the stored chemical energy may be converted intoDC electricity.

Further, once the stored chemical energy is converted into DCelectricity, a suitably configured converter, as described above, may beemployed so as to step the DC electricity up or down, such as from afirst voltage to a second voltage, whereby when at the second voltage, asuitably configured inverter can invert the direct current, at thestepped up or down voltage, to alternating current at a third voltage,such as for supply of AC electricity to the grid. Further, if necessaryor even desirable, the resultant voltage of AC may further be stepped upor down to a fourth voltage, such as by an additional suitablyconfigured converter mechanism. Once the AC is configured so as to be ata compatible voltage for transmission to and through the associatedelectric grid, the energy storage unit may push or otherwise releasethat electricity back on to the grid, such as upon the request orcommand of a user, e.g., grid operator, electricity service provider,electricity consumer, or a third party.

Accordingly, a smart energy storage unit, as herein disclosed, mayinclude one or more of an inverter and/or a converter, as describedherein, which inverter and/or converter may be part of the electroniccontrol circuitry of the control mechanism of the smart energy storageunit, or may be one or more separate devices that are operably and/orelectrically coupled therewith. Hence, an inverter and/or converter maybe included within the energy storage unit system architecture, in anysuitable configuration, so as to modulate the form of energy beingreceived, stored, and or released from the energy storage units ornetworked systems comprising the same.

In such a manner as this, electricity may be drawn from the grid in oneform having a first set of one or more different characteristics, suchas having one or more particular voltages, and may be inverted and/orconverted into a second form having another set of one or more differentcharacteristics, such as having one or more different voltages, and maybe stored, such as within one or more of the energy storage unitspresented herein, in a third form, e.g., in a chemical form, having athird set of different characteristics. Likewise, electricity may besupplied to the grid from the one or more energy storage units, such aswhere the energy has been stored in one form having a first set of oneor more different characteristics, such as is due to being storedchemically, and may be converted into a second form having another setof one or more different characteristics, such by having one voltagethat is being converted into another voltage, and may further beinverted to a third form, such as prior to being released or pushed ontothe grid as electricity, where in the third form as electricity, theenergy may have a third set of different characteristics.

For example, where AC electricity has been converted to DC, and DCelectricity has been converted to chemical energy, e.g., for storage,and where the stored chemical energy has been converted back to DCelectricity, such as for supply, the DC electricity thus produced may bein one form, having a particular voltage, and the grid to which thestored energy is to be supplied may be configured to transmitelectricity in another form, e.g., AC, having a different particularvoltage. In such an instance, the DC electricity so produced, at itsparticular voltage, may need to have that voltage modified prior orsubsequent to being inverted into AC which can then be supplied to thegrid at the appropriate voltage.

More particularly, in order to be operational with a local gird, e.g., alocal portion of the macro grid (or a larger or smaller portionthereof), so as to supply energy thereto, the smart energy storage unitmay need to include an inverter so as to invert the stored energy to aform capable of being supplied to the electric grid for use.Consequently, where the stored energy to be released to the grid isconverted from a chemical form into DC electricity, and where the gridto where the stored energy is to be released operates for thetransmission of AC electricity, the produced DC electricity may need tobe converted to AC electricity, such as by operation of a suitablyconfigured inverter.

However, where the AC to be supplied to the grid is required to be at acertain voltage so as to be compatible with the AC electricity beingtransmitted through the local grid, the produced DC may have to bestepped up or down so as to be able to be converted from the stored DCvoltage to AC electricity having the grid operable voltage. As describedabove, this may take place by first stepping up the voltage of the DCelectricity to a designated voltage, e.g., via suitably configuredconverter, and then inverting the DC electricity at the stepped upvoltage to AC electricity having the appropriate voltage, e.g., via asuitably configured inverter. Consequently, prior to inverting the DC toAC, the voltage of the DC electricity should be modulated such that wheninverted to AC electricity the resulting AC is at the appropriatevoltage.

As such, as herein described, the devices and systems of the disclosuremay include a DC to DC converter so as to convert the stored DC energyin to a particular voltage so as to then be converted into ACelectricity of a particular voltage, such as the AC voltage operated bythe grid in question. For example, where the output conversion is 240VAC, for example, about 400 VDC input would be required so as to beinverted to AC at the appropriate 240 AC voltage. In such an instance, aDC to DC conversion step may be employed to perform the properconversion and inversion, and hence, in various embodiments, the energystorage units herein provided may include one or more DC to DCconverters and/or one or more AC to DC or DC to AC inverters.

More particularly, as illustrated herein with respect to FIGS. 1A and1B, two exemplary battery bus architectures are provided that may beemployed in a manner sufficient to maximize operational efficiency,ensure safe operation and maintenance, and to satisfy the energy needsof the grid. In these instances, both have been configured so as to bein parallel circuits, although in other instances they may be in series,and consequently have been configured so as to prevent a malfunction ofone or more energy storage cells from degrading the overall performanceand capacity of the entire unit.

As exemplified in FIG. 1A the first circuit configuration (e.g.,integrated energy cell-converter configuration) integrates a pluralityof DC to DC converters within the energy storage units, such as by beingcoupled within each individual energy storage cell; and with respect toFIG. 1B, the second circuit configuration (e.g., single, integratedconverter configuration) uses a single DC to DC converter for theentirety of the energy storage cells of the storage unit, which DC to DCconverter is integrated into the DC to AC converter.

Accordingly, as can be seen with respect to FIG. 1A (e.g., theintegrated energy cell-converter configuration) each energy storage cellhas an integrated DC to DC converter that enables it to increase the DCvoltage to the required control unit bus voltage, which allows allenergy storage cells to be continuously connected, but chargedindependently. It is to be noted that although as illustrated each andevery energy storage cell has a DC to DC converter associated therewith,in various embodiments, any sub portion thereof may or may not have a DCto DC converter coupled to it.

However, as can be seen with respect to FIG. 1B, for the singleintegrated converter configuration, the DC to DC conversion stage isintegrated with the DC to AC converter for improved conversionefficiency and reduced component cost. Since each independent energystorage cell may be at a different voltage from the others, the controlunit, e.g., BMS, may be configured so as to monitor all voltage levelsand selectively connect or disconnect storage cells to optimize chargingand discharging.

In various embodiments, the inverter may be a two-way conversion deviceconfigured for converting grid-tied electricity, such as single phase120/240 VAC, into DC, such as for storage; and further, configured forconverting stored energy, e.g., in DC form, back into 120/240 VAC, suchas for being supplied back to the grid. In various instances, the BMSmay include a separate converter that is configured for converting thestored energy back into AC at a predetermined voltage, e.g., at 120/240VAC, for being supplied back to the grid. Additionally, in certaininstances, if the grid connection is disrupted or the unit is islanded,the storage unit may be capable of producing 120/240 VAC, single phaseusing its own frequency reference to maintain high quality electricity.

Accordingly, the energy storage unit may include one or more powerinverters and/or converters, e.g., one or more of AC to DC, DC to AC,and/or DC to DC inverters/converters. For instance, in one instance, theenergy storage unit may include a DC to DC converter, such as where theDC to DC converter is integrated within each of the energy controlsystems of the individual energy storage cells within the storage unit,such as by being directly coupled therewith. In such an instance, one ormore, e.g., all, of the energy storage cells may be connected, e.g.,continuously connected, to the SC/BMS bus such that disparities in theindividual states of charge may be sensed and accounted for, such asthrough appropriately configuring the individual DC to DC converters.Alternatively, in another instance, a DC to DC converter may beprovided, where the DC to DC converter is in a single integratedconverter configuration. In such an instance, the SC/BMS may beselectively connected with or disconnected from the individual energystorage cells, such as via operation of a gating feature within thecontrol circuit, so as to equalize their states of charge.

As can be seen with respect to the above, the energy storage units asherein presented may be deployed individually or collectively to supplyenergy to a local or far reaching grid and may be connected so as tooperate collectively, such as in a network and/or a system of energystorage units. However, as each storage unit may have a plurality ofenergy storage cells coupled therewith, the energy storage unitsthemselves and/or the individual energy storage cells therein may beinterconnected in several different configurations, such as in series orin parallel, dependent on the desired configuration of the serviced gridarchitecture and/or the architecture of the individual storage unit. Forinstance, the energy storage unit and the individual cells thereof mayhave any suitable architecture, however, in particular embodiments, theplurality of energy storage units, in combination, and/or the pluralityof individual energy storage cells within the energy storage units, maybe connected with one another electrically in series, such as wherespeed of energy transmission is desired, or in parallel, such as toensure operability even if one or more modules of the system becomesinoperative.

Accordingly, in view of the above, in one aspect, the apparatuses,systems, and methods of their use as herein described are directed tothe formation of one or more smart grids, such as a smart macro grid. Asdescribed in detail herein, two or more smart macro grids can besynchronized and/or layered together to form a smart mega grid, such asa nationwide smart mega grid. Further, two or more smart mega grids canbe synchronized and layered together, such as by crossing internationalboundaries, so as to form a smart super grid, such as an internationalsmart super grid. In such instances, the smart control units and/or thesmart energy storage units herein described can be distributed widelythroughout the grid networks and employed so as to control the flow ofelectricity through the grid in an intelligent manner.

Additionally, as described herein, various portions of the local macrogrid can be broken down into sub-portions, such as smart sub-grids ofdecreasing size. For instance, the smart control units and/or smartenergy storage units herein described may be distributed throughout oneor more communities and/or one or more facilities, and can be networkedtogether so as to function and/or be controlled synchronously so as toform a smart micro grid, nano grid, pico grid, and/or fento grid,whereby the energy being supplied to the grid is controllable via thesmart control units, and where if desired, the entire sub-grid networkmay be removed or islanded from the larger grid, and may be poweredexclusively by the distributed energy storage units therein.

In a manner such as this, the smart grids herein introduced are capableof handling the demands of fluctuating usage, such as those caused byincreased energy demand peaks, at the same time as lowering the risk ofthe destabilizations that would typically occur due to the archaicinfrastructure of the legacy grid trying to handle such increaseddemand. For instance, due to its archaic transmission and distributionlines as well as its outdated transformers, the legacy grid is underconstant threat of being overloaded during times of peak demand. Thisthreat is made even more significant given the problems associated withquickly spinning up peaker plant generators to try and meet enlargedenergy needs. These conditions if not controlled can easily lead tobrownout and blackout conditions. However, by the wide spreaddistribution of the energy storage units into the smart grids disclosedherein, these destabilizing risks to the legacy grid can be minimizedsuch as by shifting peak time supply to time periods of non-peak timeuse. Additionally, the problems associated with low demand valleys mayalso be curtailed, such as by lessening the need for energy substationsthat sit idle in anticipation of the next energy peak.

More specifically, the smart control and energy storage units providedherein alleviate these concerns on all different grid levels, such as byproviding energy control and management systems compatible on thenational and/or international level down to the level of buildingmanagement and/or individual appliance control. For instance, the smartcontrol and/or energy storage units can be deployed throughout the gridso as to provide intelligence therefore and thereby make the associatedgrid smart.

For example, the smart energy storage unit may be deployed throughoutthe grid so as to store energy that can be released onto the grid attimes of need. Further, the smart control unit can be coupled with thesmart energy storage unit so as to control when the energy storage unitscharge, and thereby store energy and when they discharge and therebysupply energy to the grid. In a particular embodiment, smart energystorage devices may be distributed throughout an electrical network,and/or in conjunction with one or more appliances, so as to controland/or modulate the flow and/or storage of electricity throughout thenetwork. And in such a manner as this, the distributed energy storageunits can supply backup energy to a wide area grid such as a micro ormacro grid or larger, and/or supply back up energy on a small scalegrid, e.g., a fento grid, such as by being incorporated into anappliance such that the appliance may draw energy from the grid, butwhere needed can draw energy from its coupled smart energy storage unit.For example, in certain embodiments, smart energy storing applianceshaving a remotely controllable control unit may be provided, such as inan easy to use and/or cost effective configuration.

In such instances, the smart appliances may further be configured to notonly control how and when the appliance receives power, so as to storeexcess energy, but can also be configured to return unused power to thegrid, such as at times of peak use and/or before the next chargingcycle. For instance, if the system has stored power remaining before thenext cycle to charge the energy storage unit(s), the system may returnthe power to grid so it can be used elsewhere. In some areas, the usermay even receive credit for the returned power, thereby reducing theuser utility costs. Further, in areas where the power grid suffers fromblackouts and brownouts, or is generally unreliable, the system of thepresent disclosure ensures adequate energy is available to power one ormore circuits of a grid so as to run the one or more appliances.

More particularly, in addition to reducing the costs associated withappliance operation, the systems presented herein provide intelligentcapabilities in the appliance system thereby allowing the appliance tocommunicate with a central control system, so as to provide a local userthe ability and an interface, e.g., a graphical user interface, forprogramming and controlling the appliance, and further to provide asystem that monitors the appliance and reports the current status andpower levels of the appliance and/or its energy storage capacity to auser, such as a grid operator and/or the electricity consumer, or thelike. More specifically, in various embodiments, a system can beprovided that can be used with existing appliances to make the systemeven more cost effective for the user. In such manners as these, thelocal user of electricity may be given the tools they need to maximizetheir conservation efforts and lower their consumption of electricitythereby helping to lower the overall consumption by the community. Anysuitable appliance may be made smart, as herein described, such as arefrigerator, dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, TV set-top box,audio-video equipment, emergency power supplies, generators, pool pumps,well pumps, recirculation pumps, and HVAC systems, and the like.Additionally, other appliances may be made smart only limited by theirability to connect power storage and control systems such as the systemsdisclosed herein.

An additional benefit of the apparatuses, systems, and methods presentedherein is that the complex and ineffective pricing models introduced bythe utilities so as to modify or change the behavioral use patterns ofthe consumer can be done away with. For instance, over the past severalyears, electricity service providers, e.g., utilities, have triedincentivizing consumers to conserve, but most of these programs havegenerated weak results. For example, some utilities charge more forpower used during peak times and less during off-peak times. Hence, thecurrent trend is to increase rates during high usage periods or penalizeconsumers with escalating rates depending on their total monthly usage.It is suspected that these most recent tactics have cost the utilitiessignificantly without any appreciable gain, while the increased programcomplexities have caused utilities to question if the conservationefforts are really what are necessary to help stabilize the electricalgrid. However, in view of the devices, systems, and methods of thepresent disclosure such pricing concepts like “Time of Use” pricing,“Dynamic Pricing,” and/or “Demand Response” pricing can be abandoned,which in turn relieves the consumer from having to suffer theconsequences of higher energy pricing and/or increased temperatures intheir homes and businesses when they failed to acquiesce to the requiredbehavioral changes. More particularly, the devices, systems, and/ormethods of the present disclosure allows for the shifting of grid powerusage to off-peak times when the cost of power is cheaper, therebyobviating the need for these complex pricing structures.

Further, as the smart grid devices, as herein disclosed, may include atruly grid tied monitoring system and intelligent display, the largelyunworkable and superfluous in home displays and/or demand responsethermostats previously introduced to the market can be discarded aswell. Such devices are hard to use as they offer complicated deploymentoptions and have yet to offer any significant long-term value. Incontrast to this, the smart grid monitoring and control solutionsprovided herein will more truly enable the utilities to monitor overallload shifting of micro loads while supporting advanced Demand Responsecapabilities. For instance, the control mechanisms, software, hardware,and/or computer processing servers, herein disclosed, will enableutilities to shift peak demand to off-peak times, withoutinconveniencing consumers. More particularly, addressing distributedmicro-loads in addition to the providing controllable, centralizedlarge-scale storage, utilities will be able to gain a very predictableand stable grid.

Hence, the present solutions offer relatively affordable implementationsthat may be directed at shifting residential and/or commercial energydemand, e.g., on the consumer side of the grid, from peak times to offpeak times, without substantial, negative impact on the consumer's timeof use and/or comfort, all at the same time as simplifying energymanagement for the consumer and helping to achieve the utilities goalsfor a more stabilized smart grid. Further, in areas where the mainsource of power is alternative energy, such as solar, wind,hydroelectric, or the like, power may not be available during nighttimeor times of no wind or flow. The devices, systems, and methods presentedherein allows for the charging of the smart energy storage units whenpower is present, e.g., it is sunny, windy, and/or water is flowing, andthen allows the power to be used at a later time, regardless of thepresence of utility provided power. In such instances, the system cancharge the storage units by way of a trickle charge, a normal charge, ora fast charge, depending on the amount of power available during thecharging cycle. For instance, if the batteries need to be charged duringpeak times, the system may use a trickle charge to help reduce energycosts. However, during off-peak times, or when power is available from alocal source, such as solar or wind, the system may use a normal chargeor a fast charge. Hence, the charging and discharging of the smart unitsessentially provides a time-shifting function for the use of grid power.

Referring now to FIG. 2 , a system-level block diagram exemplifying anembodiment of the present disclosure is shown and generally designated100. System 100 includes a smart energy storage unit 102 that receivesgrid power 104 from an electric grid. Grid power 104 can be supplied bytraditional utilities, solar panels, wind turbines, hydro-electricgenerators, geothermal power, and any other suitable source of powergeneration.

The smart energy storage unit 102 is in communication with an energycloud 150, which in turn is in communication with an electricity serviceprovider 152, a remote server 154, and a third party 156.

The smart energy storage unit 102 may also be in communication with oneor more electricity consumers, such as appliances 120, 130, and 140.Internally, smart energy storage unit 102 may include a smart energycontrol unit, where the smart energy control unit may include one ormore of a control system, 106, a timer/clock 108, a user interface 110,such as a graphical user interface, a communications module having acommunications interface 112, a power control unit 114, an energystorage cell 116, and a memory 118.

Control system 106 controls the overall operation of the smart energystorage unit 102, including the coordination of the other internalmodules with each other.

Timer/clock 108 provides the timing for each module's interactions witheach other as well as provides a system time that allows the smartenergy storage unit 102 to control when electricity is received, stored,applied, and returned to the grid.

The user interface 110 may provide the user with the ability tointerface with the control system 106 and/or the smart energy storageunit 102 to set the various parameters associated with the energystorage and supply management system 100. The user can interface througha keypad, a touchscreen, e.g., a capacitive sensing or resistive touchscreen, a Bluetooth, Low Energy Bluetooth, an infra-red connecteddevice, and an application that resides on an external computing devicesuch as a home computer, a tablet, mobile computing device, e.g., asmartphone, and the like.

Communication interface 112 of the communications module allows the userto communicate with the energy storage and supply management system 100,with other smart grid assets, with other appliances, and/or with otherenergy storage and supply management systems. The communication methodsincorporated into the communications module may include, but are notlimited to, a transmitter and/or receiver such as a broadband wiredcommunication, broadband wireless communication, and other wirelesscommunication systems such as Bluetooth, Low Energy Bluetooth, and WiFiconnectivity.

For instance, in one embodiment, the Zigbee communication standard isused. Zigbee is a specification for a suite of high level communicationprotocols using small, low power digital radios based on the IEEE802.15.4-2003 standard. In addition, Zigbee coordinators can also beprovided to facilitate communication within the Zigbee communicationlink, and to interface to a wired or wireless broadband communicationsystem. While this communication protocol may be suited for the energymanagement and control system of the present embodiment, it is to beappreciated that other existing wireless, wired, and power linecommunication (PLC) protocols may be used alone or in combination, or aproprietary communication protocol may be incorporated herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the present invention.

Power control unit 114 controls the charge and discharge of the energystorage cell 116, such as based on the programming of the control system106. The control system 106 may also provide alerts and status updatessuch as energy storage cell charge status, storage cell health, andpower load.

Additionally, the power control unit 114 and/or the control system 106may be configured to monitor the efficiency of the connected appliances120, 130, 140, perform remote diagnostics, generate and transmitmaintenance alerts, and may further be configured to report theinformation to the user and/or energy cloud 150. The alerts and statusupdates can be displayed on the user interface 110, on the power controlunit 114, or they can be reported externally to the smart energy storageunit 102, which will display the information on the user interface 110or send the information to the user via a portable web application,email, or text message.

The energy storage cell 116 may include of any power storage technologyknown in the industry, such as one or more chemical media including ZincManganese Oxide (ZMO), Lithium Ion, Nickel Metal Hydride, Lead Acid, andthe like, and may be configured as one or more of ZMO batteries, lithiumion batteries, nickel metal hydride batteries, and lead-acid batteries.

The energy storage cell 116 can supply power back to the grid which maythereby be used as grid power 104, or may supply power to any of theappliances 120, 130, 140, and/or may be used to supplement availablegrid power 104 if it is not enough to operate the appliances 120, 130,140.

Another advantage of the system of the present disclosure is powerconditioning for extended appliance protection and operation. Thisconcept works similar to an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) commonlyused with computers and servers.

The power control unit 114 may provide instantaneous power to compensatefor a reduced input voltage condition, e.g., brownout or blackoutcondition, by supplying power from the smart energy storage cell 116 tothe appliance 120, 130, 140. Additionally, the power control unit 114may minimize, if not eliminate, voltage surges, such as from lightningstrikes and power return after a blackout or brownout, which couldpermanently damage a piece of equipment.

The energy storage control unit 102 also contains memory 118 thatprovides storage for programs, such as storage and release, and chargeand discharge programs, status history, usage history, and maintenancehistory. The memory 118 can be any form a data storage known in theindustry including, but not limited to, traditional hard drives,solid-state storage devices, and flash memory.

In some embodiments, appliances 120, 130, 140 may receive power andcontrol signals from the smart energy storage unit 102. The appliances120, 130, 140 may also return usage and power data to the control unit106 of the energy storage unit 102, thereby allowing the control unit106 to coordinate power usage of smart assets, other smart energystorage units, appliances, or even other storage and supply managementsystems.

The smart energy storage unit 102 may also interface with the energycloud 150. For the purposes of the present embodiment, energy cloud 150may include utility based information as well as information about anysmart energy storage units 102 connected to the energy cloud 150. Theinformation contained in energy cloud 150 may be brown out conditions,black out conditions, notifications from the electricity serviceprovider 152 regarding current power conditions, power line status,metrics associated with power production and consumption, as well asrequests for power from any connected and functioning appliance controlunit.

The smart energy storage unit 102 may use this information from theenergy cloud 150 to determine when and how fast to charge the energystorage cell 116 as well as the optimum time to operate any of theappliances 120, 130, 140. In other words, if grid power 104 is at areduced level or a brown out or a black out condition is imminent, forinstance, energy storage unit 102 may charge the energy storage cell 116as fast as possible to ensure maximum power is available to run anappliance. If grid power is operating normally, for instance, energystorage unit 102 may trickle charge the energy storage cell 116, performa normal charge, or wait to charge the energy storage cell 116 until atime when the cost of power is cheaper.

The energy cloud 150 communicates information with Electricity ServiceProviders 152, remote server clients 154, as well as third parties 156.Electricity Service Providers 152, e.g., Utilities, provide demand baseddata and control inputs. The utility providers also receive data fromthe energy cloud 150.

Remote server client 154 communicates with the energy cloud 150 as wellas the Utility provider 152. Web services software of the remote serverclient 154 exchanges data between utility 152 back-end systems and homearea networks via the energy cloud 150. Cloud servers work with SmartGrid communications, enterprise software, and metering solutions todeliver insight to both utility providers 152 and consumers.

The present embodiment, therefore, optimizes load management data bycollecting granular customer usage data associated with each appliance120, 130, 140. It quantifies usage and maintenance logs for reporting,feedback, and scheduling into the utility provider's 152 loadmanagement, demand response, or other back-end systems. The remoteserver client 154 is capable of scalable load management, which tracksand manages customer actions. It can update an entire network of HANdevices with over-the-air software upgrades.

The energy cloud 150 also communicates with third parties 156. Thesethird parties 156 are typically the designers and manufacturers of powerinstrumentation and control systems, but can also be a third partyregulator and/or monitor. Typical third parties 156 could be 0-Power®,Honeywell®, Metasys®, Schneider Electric®, NEST®, and the like. Theinformation supplied allows the third parties 156 to continually monitorand update the performance of not only the energy cloud 150 and gridpower 104, but also the individual smart energy storage units 102, othernetworked smart assets, and any connected appliances 120, 130, 140.

In operation, the appliance control unit 102 uses information suppliedfrom the energy cloud 150 and the grid power 104 to determine theoptimum time to charge and use any of the connected appliances 120, 130,140. A user may input, via the user interface 110, the desired usagetime and duration. The control system 106 then uses the user's input, aswell as any information made available from the energy cloud 150, todetermine when and how fast to charge the energy storage cell 116.

Referring now to FIG. 3 , a block diagram of another embodiment is shownand generally referred to as 200. Similar to the energy storage andsupply management system shown in FIG. 2 , this embodiment may include asmart energy storage unit 202, grid power 204 delivered from theelectric grid, and appliances 220, 230, 240, in addition to energy cloud150, Electricity Service Provider, e.g., Utility, 152, and third parties156. Grid power 204 is shown as a bi-directional function since powermay be withdrawn from and/or can be supplied back to the grid.

The appliance energy storage unit 202 may include of a control unit 206,which control unit may include or otherwise be operably connected withtimer/clock 208, user interface 210, communication module 212, memory218, power control unit 214, and one or more modular energy storagecells 216. The composition and function of these units is similar to theunits described in FIG. 2 .

In this embodiment, power control unit 214 may also include a converter215, which may be a convert, inverter, rectifier, or a combinationthereof, such as where the converter functions to convert electricityfrom the grid to a form that can be stored as chemical energy within themodular energy storage cell 216, and further functions to convert thechemical energy from the energy storage cells 216 to electivity, whichelectricity may be fed back to grid power 204 thereby allowing theretuned power to be used elsewhere. In certain instances, the returnedpower reduces the utility costs of the site operating the energy storageunit 202.

In this and other embodiments, the number of energy storage cells 216 isscalable, such as where the number, size, and dimensions of energystorage cells is determined 216 based on the number of appliances 220,230, 240 connected, or to be connected to the smart energy storage unit202. In other words, the more appliances 220, 230, 240 attached to theenergy storage unit 202, the more energy storage cells 216 that may beincluded within the energy storage units 202 and/or connected to ensureadequate power to run the appliances 220, 230, 240.

Further, if grid power is not generally reliable or extended brown outor black out conditions are expected, additional energy storage cells216 may be added to store power harvested from the grid power 204, orother source of renewable power generation, when that power isavailable.

Referring to FIG. 4 , a block diagram of another embodiment of an energystorage and supply management system is shown and generally referred toas 300. Similar to the energy storage unit shown in FIG. 3 , thisalternative embodiment may include a smart energy storage unit 302, gridpower 304, an appliance 320, energy cloud 150, a utility provider 152, aremote client server 154, and/or a third party 156. In this embodiment,energy storage unit 302 may include a control chassis 301 and a powerchassis 303. The control chassis 301 may include a control system 306,timer/clock 308, user interface 310, communication interface 312, andmemory 318. The power chassis 303 may include power control unit 314, aconverter, e.g., grid flexible converter or inverter 315, and modularenergy storage cells 316. The operation of these components is similarto the operation of like components in the earlier embodiments asdiscussed above.

In this embodiment, control chassis 301 and power chassis 303 areseparate from each other yet may be housed within the same smart asset,e.g., smart energy storage unit 302. The separation of control chassis301 and power chassis 303 allow for optimum placement of radios orantennas for communication. The operation of the energy storage andsupply management system 300 is similar to that of system 200 as shownin FIG. 3 . The smart energy storage unit 302 receives power from gridpower 304. Energy storage unit 302 also communicates with energy cloud150 to transmit and receive information associated with grid operator152 and the grid power 304.

If the grid operator 152 transmits a request for power from the energystorage unit 302, and the energy storage unit 302 is configured to allowpower return to the grid power 304, then control system 306 will signalthe power control unit 314 to convert power from modular energy storagecell 316, via converter 315, to a form that can be fed back to gridpower 304. If a user programs control system 306 to not return power togrid power 304, the energy storage unit 302 may send a signal, viaenergy cloud 150, to inform the grid operator 152, remote server client154, and any third party 156 that energy storage unit 302 will notreturn power to power grid 304. Control system 306 may be programmed toautomatically respond to a request for power by signaling anacknowledgement to energy cloud 150 then return power to grid power 304.Through programming of the smart energy storage unit 302, a user may setlimits on the amount of power to be returned as well as specific timesfor power to be returned. This helps to ensure that energy storage unit302 maintains sufficient stored energy to operate an appliance 320 atthe user's desired time.

When energy storage unit 302 is programmed to limit power return to gridpower 304, control system 306 may signal energy cloud 150 of theprogrammed limits thereby allowing the grid operator 152, remote serverclient 154, and third parties 156 to better predict and control theamount of power available on grid power 304.

Now referring to FIG. 5 , a block diagram of another alternativeembodiment of the energy storage and supply management system is shownand generally referred to as 400. This embodiment includes the sameindividual components as other embodiments discussed above, but thepower chassis 303 (from FIG. 4 ) is integrated into an appliance 420 and430 instead of energy storage unit 402. Each appliance 420 and 430receives power from grid power 404 individually. The appliances 420, 430each communicate with the appliance control unit 402. As in previousembodiments, appliance control unit 402 is in communication with energycloud 150. In this embodiment, appliance control unit 402 includescontrol system 406, which control system may include or be operablyconnected with one or more of: timer/clock 408, user interface 410,communication interface 412, and memory 418. Appliances 420, 430 mayinclude power control unit 422, 432, inverters 423, 433, and modularenergy storage cells 424, 434. The number of modular energy storagecells 424, 434 may be scalable. This allows a user to add or remove aenergy storage cells depending on appliance 420, 430 demand orreliability of grid power 404.

In another embodiment, appliances 420, 430 may be interconnected, suchas on a shared and islanded micro, nano, and/or pico circuit, to allowthe sharing of power without the use of grid power 404. The appliancecontrol unit 402 controls the sharing of power between appliances 420,430. This provides the advantage of allowing a user to choose how manymodular energy storage cells 424, 434 to install in each appliance 420,430 yet ensuring that enough power is available to run any oneparticular appliance 424, 434.

While there have been shown what several different embodiments of thepresent disclosure, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatvarious changes and modifications can be made herein without departingfrom the scope and spirit of the disclosure.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A smart energy storage system configuredfor receiving energy from and supplying energy to a local electricalcircuit, the smart energy storage system comprising: a combined inputand an output for coupling the smart energy storage unit to the localelectrical circuit, the combined input and the output configured forcoupling the smart energy storage unit to the local electrical circuitby being plugged into an outlet connected to the local electricalcircuit to thereby receive AC energy from and supply AC energy to thelocal electrical circuit; and a smart energy storage unit having ahousing, the housing being defined by a plurality of extended membersthat are in opposed relationship to one another, the plurality ofextended members being configured so as to be coupled together in amanner so as to bound a cavity, the cavity being adapted to retain: aunitary first and second inverter unit configured for being electricallycoupled to the combined input and output, the unitary first and secondinverter unit including a first inverter portion and a second inverterportion, the unitary first and second inverter unit being associatedwith a first controller, the first inverter portion being configured forreceiving, at a first time, a first amount of AC energy from the localelectrical circuit via the combined input and output and converting thefirst amount of AC energy to a first amount of DC energy suitable forstorage, and the second inverter portion configured for receiving, at asecond time, a second amount of DC energy and for converting the secondamount of DC energy in to a second amount of AC energy for supply to thelocal electrical circuit, the first controller for directing operationsof the first inverter portion at the first time, and the second inverterportion at the second time; a battery unit comprising a plurality ofenergy storage cells electrically coupled to the unitary first andsecond inverter unit for receiving the first amount of DC energy fromthe first inverter portion and converting the first amount of DC energyto chemical energy for storage so as to charge the battery unit of thesmart energy storage unit, and for converting a second amount ofchemical energy to the second amount of DC energy which may then beconverted via the second inverter portion unit to the second amount ofAC energy for release to the local electrical circuit so as to dischargethe battery unit of the smart energy storage unit; a battery managementsystem (BMS) coupled to the battery unit, the BMS for modulating acharge status of one or more of the plurality of energy storage cellsduring the storing of energy in and the releasing of energy from thebattery unit; a master controller coupled to the first controller, themaster controller configured for determining a condition of the localelectrical circuit and in response thereto generating and communicatinga first set of energy management instructions to the first controller soas to control one or more conversion operations of the unitary first andsecond inverter portions in response to the determined condition of thelocal electric circuit; and a display including a graphic userinterface, the graphic user interface configured for receiving usercommands to program one or more of the first controller and the mastercontroller to withdraw energy from the local electric circuit and tosupply energy to the local electric circuit with respect to one or moredeterminable conditions.
 2. The smart energy storage system according toclaim 1, wherein the smart energy storage unit is integrated within anelectric appliance.
 3. The smart energy storage system according toclaim 1, wherein the master controller is associated with a memory forstoring a menu of user commands.
 4. The smart energy storage systemaccording to claim 3, wherein the unitary first and second inverter andfirst controller form a grid flexible converter.
 5. A smart energystorage unit for in-home use and configured for receiving energy fromand supplying energy to a local electrical circuit, the smart energystorage unit comprising: a housing, the housing having a surface memberconfigured to form a cavity, the cavity being configured for housing aplurality of smart energy storage unit components, the smart energystorage unit components comprising: a singular combined input and outputcapable of being associated with the housing of the smart energy storageunit, the combined input and output including a plug feature configuredfor coupling the smart energy storage unit to the local electricalcircuit by being plugged into an associated electrical outlet; a gridflexible converter (GFC) including a GFC control unit and an integratedfirst and second inverter unit electrically coupled to the combinedinput and output, the first and second inverter unit including a firstinverter portion and a second inverter portion, the first inverterportion for receiving a first amount of AC energy from the localelectrical circuit via the input and converting the first amount of ACenergy to a first amount of DC energy suitable for storage, and thesecond inverter portion for receiving a second amount of DC energy andfor converting the second amount of DC energy in to a second amount ofAC energy for supply to the local electrical circuit via the output; abattery unit comprising a plurality of energy storage cells electricallycoupled to the GFC for receiving the first amount of DC energy andconverting the first amount of DC energy to chemical energy for storageso as to charge the battery unit of the smart energy storage unit, andfor converting a second amount of chemical energy to a second amount ofDC energy which may then be converted to the second amount of AC energyfor release to the local electrical circuit so as to discharge thebattery unit of the smart energy storage unit; a battery managementsystem (BMS) coupled to the battery unit for directing the storing ofenergy in and the releasing of energy from the plurality of energystorage cells; a master controller coupled to one or more of the GFC andthe BMS, the master controller configured for receiving data pertainingto a local electrical circuit condition and in response to the receiveddata generating and communicating energy management system instructionsto the one or more of the GFC and the BMS so as to control the receivingof energy from and the supplying of energy to the local electric circuitand thereby controlling the charging and discharging of the battery unitof the smart energy storage unit in accordance with the local electriccircuit condition data; and a display including a graphic userinterface, the graphic user interface configured for receiving usercommands to program the master controller to withdraw energy from thelocal electric circuit and to supply energy to the local electriccircuit with respect to one or more determinable local electric circuitconditions.
 6. The smart energy storage unit according to claim 5,wherein the smart energy storage unit is integrated within an electricalappliance.
 7. The smart energy storage unit according to claim 5,wherein the smart energy storage unit is sized and dimensioned for usewithin a room within a house.
 8. The smart energy storage unit accordingto claim 5, wherein the master controller is associated with a memoryfor storing a menu of user commands.
 9. The smart energy storage unitaccording to claim 8, wherein the smart energy storage unit includes acommunications module, and the communications module includes acommunication interface for communicating with a remote server via acommunications network.